House Bill Would Ban BPA In Infant Formula

WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced today will protect all formula-fed babies from being exposed to high levels of BPA by removing the toxic chemical from all food containers, including those for infant formula.

Representative Edward Markey’s (D-MA) bill – The Ban Poisonous Additives Act - seeks to remove the toxic chemical from food containers, which are the most significant documented source of BPA exposure for infants and children. In some cases canned infant formula could expose infants to as much as 10 times more BPA than they would receive from plastics bottles. Other canned foods marketed to children like chicken soup or ravioli also contain worrisome levels of BPA.

“By targeting food containers Congressman Markey’s bill would protect infants, children, and pregnant women from the most important documented source of BPA, canned foods. Parents have rightly been concerned with BPA in baby bottles, but formula containers, in particular canned infant formula concentrate, are a more worrisome source of BPA for babies,” said Environmental Working Group Executive Director Richard Wiles. “Congressman Markey is placing the most vulnerable population first in his efforts to reduce people’s exposure to this toxic chemical, and we applaud him for his efforts.”

An analysis by Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that all major infant formula manufacturers in the U.S. are using BPA in their formula containers.

Late last year EWG contacted company officials at Nestlé, Ross-Abbot (Similac), Mead-Johnson (Enfamil), Hain-Celestial (Earth’s Best), and PBM (sold under various names at Walmart, Kroger, Target and other stores). Each company’s policy was documented a minimum of three times; twice through detailed phone interviews, and once by an e-mail questionnaire. The results revealed that all manufacturers use BPA to line the metal portions of infant formula containers, including both liquid and powdered varieties.

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EWG is a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment.

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