Many parents who have replaced their polycarbonate baby bottles are unaware that BPA contaminates liquid baby formula sold in metal cans. FDA estimates that babies have 12.5 times more BPA exposure than adults, due to BPA in formula and bottles. This underestimates risks to light or hungry babies and those fed formula with the highest BPA concentrations. Babies are more sensitive to BPA’s harmful effects because their bodies are developing rapidly but can not metabolize and excrete the chemical as quickly as adults.
Recent tests by Environmental Working Group and the Canadian government, and a 1990s test by FDA show BPA leaching into all brands of liquid formula. EWG is concerned that the exposures for babies fed liquid formula exceed the levels that cause harm in laboratory studies. The Canadian government has announced measures to ban BPA in baby bottles and reduce BPA levels in liquid formula. FDA has ignored the scientific evidence and declared all uses of BPA to be safe.
The NIH's National Toxicology Program expressed "some concern" for the impact of BPA exposures on the baby's brain and reproductive system. However FDA, the government agency that regulates food packaging, has deemed BPA to be safe. In response to FDA inaction the Congressional Energy and Commerce committee launched an investigation into BPA contamination of formula. Formula-makers have promised Congress they will find safer ways to package their products. In the meantime, EWG recommends parents feed their babies breast milk, powdered formula or liquid types of formula that aren’t sold in metal cans.
Canadian officials found no detectable BPA in 56 powdered samples and these were made by the same companies who sell formula in the U.S. Therefore EWG calls for parents to use powdered formula or liquid types packaged in glass or plastic.
Is there BPA in liquid formula? [0]
Is there BPA in powdered formula? [0]
What type of bottles should I use? [0]
Are babies’ exposures high enough to pose a health risk? [0]
What can I do to reduce my baby’s BPA intake? [0]
What is FDA doing to assess the safety of babies’ exposures? [0]
What is Congress doing to protect babies from BPA? [0]
What are formula companies doing to reduce BPA levels in liquid formula? [0]
What is EWG doing to protect babies from BPA? [0]
formula-makers admitted to EWG [1] that they use BPA liners of metal formula cans, and have claimed to be investigating BPA-free packaging.
Both EWG and FDA tests found the highest levels of BPA in Enfamil brand formula. Canadian tests include the same types sold in the U.S. (Cao 2008). The Canadian researchers found that some brands are consistently worse than others but didn’t reveal brand names, and determined that BPA levels were higher in cans with a thicker epoxy lining. In response the Canadian government is working to reduce BPA levels in formula and find safer packaging methods.
Babies fed liquid formula are likely exposed to more BPA from formula than from the polycarbonate bottles used to feed them. EWG recommends parents not use liquid formula from metal cans until BPA replacements are found. Use powdered formula or liquid types that are not sold in metal cans.
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4 major formula companies had told EWG that they used BPA [2] in powdered formula containers or gave us conflicting answers. FDA recently analyzed 2 types of powdered formula containers and concluded that there was no BPA epoxy lining the metal portions of cans.
Luckily most formulas, including special formulations are available as powders, thus BPA-free formula is available for most infant’s nutritional needs. Parents should consult with their pediatrician before switching formula, especially if you have concerns about the quality of your tap water. Also note that the American Dental Association recommends that parents not use fluoridated water to mix baby formula because bottlefed babies get too much fluoride. Use filtered, non-fluoridated bottled water instead. If your baby needs to be fed liquid formula, look for types packaged in glass or plastic (these plastics are not the type that leaches BPA).
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Baby Safe feeding [3].
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submitted comments [4] to the FDA subcommittee and Science Board demanding that their safety assessment is fully protective of children’s health.
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on-going investigation [5] of BPA contamination of baby formula. They have gathered information from formula companies about the use of BPA and any testing the companies do to measure BPA levels in their product. They have requested that companies voluntarily remove BPA from the lining of cans used to package formula.
All of the 4 major formula companies have responded that they do use BPA and are seeking alternatives.
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stated in a letter to Congress [6]:
“Although the scientific evidence is inconclusive, the possibility that BPA may pose adverse health risks to the infants and children who are fed our formula was more than sufficient for us to begin the process of eliminating BPA from our infant formula packaging.”
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Reference:
Reference: Cao XL, et. al. 2008. Levels of bisphenol A in canned liquid infant formula products in Canada and dietary intake estimates. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep 10;56(17):7919-24. pubmed [7]