May 13, 2009 5:32 pm US/Central
City Council Approves BPA Baby Bottle Ban
Compound Is Suspected Of Causing Medical Problems
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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A 2008 report says some of the most popular brands of plastic baby bottles release potentially harmful BPA into the bottle's contents when heated.
CBS
There was a big move Wednesday to protect kids from a toxic chemical. This afternoon, the Chicago City Council unanimously voted to ban bisphenol A, or BPA, from baby bottles and sippy cups.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports that Chicago is now the first city in the nation to ban the sale of sippy cups and bottles containing BPA.
BPA is used to harden plastics and to line food containers, and while experts disagree on whether it poses health risks to humans, some studies have linked it to the development of breast and liver cancers, as well as diabetes, later in life.
Retailers will have to post signs indicating their products are BPA-free. Violators will face fines of up to $500.
Spokesmen for the ordinance's sponsors, Aldermen Edward Burke and Manny Flores, said Wednesday the ban will go into effect in January of next year.
A City Council committee passed the ordinance banning BPA on Monday.
However, last year the Federal Food and Drug Administration concluded that BPA does not pose a health risk to consumers. Critics charge they based their decision on research funded by plastics manufacturers.
Sponsors of the ordinance hope the FDA will pay attention to today's vote.
"They refuse to pay attention to the independent research that has linked BPA exposure to harmful health effects and instead they are listening to the chemical industry and the plastic industry," Ald. Manny Flores said.
Congress and several states are considering legislation to ban BPA's in items used by young children.
But the American Chemistry Council says the ban is unwarranted and not based on science.
BPA is a compound that has been used as a component in polycarbonate plastics for more than 50 years. But in a 2007 test, a coalition of American and Canadian environmental groups tested six of the most popular brands of bottles and found that when they were exposed to high heat -- a condition that simulates normal wear and tear and washing -- the chemical was released into the milk or formula inside.
Consumer activists say when present in baby food containers, BPA makes babies more susceptible to diseases like prostate cancer, breast cancer and diabetes later in life. The chemical mimics estrogen and can disrupt the endocrine system.
Many stores nationwide have already stopped selling infant products containing BPA because of consumer concerns.
Some natural food stores, like Whole Foods, have made a commitment to stock only BPA-free baby products, including baby bottles and sippy cups.
If you're wondering how you can tell whether the baby bottles or sippy cups already on your shelf contain BPA one easy clue is if they are labeled with the recycle number 7. If so, they are almost sure to contain BPA.
But if you trying to avoid the chemical and you want to be sure, you can buy new, BPA-free plastic products or use glass baby bottles.
Incidentally, in becoming the first city to ban the BPA sales, Chicago joins the entire state of Minnesota, which last week became the first state that voted to ban BPA from plastic baby bottles and sippy cups.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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