Posted on 12/26/2007 6:18:55 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Local moms are playing it cautious when it comes to their babies' bottles.
Retailers throughout southeastern Wisconsin say they have seen a swell of interest in glass and bisphenol A-free baby bottles in the past few weeks. So much so that a store manager at USA Baby in Brookfield said manufacturers have been unable to keep up with his customers' demands.
"We've really seen a surge in the last month," said Tom Blackmore, manager of USA Baby. "It's been hard to keep glass bottles in stock."
A growing body of research indicates that bisphenol A - a chemical used to make the hard, clear plastic called polycarbonate, as well as the epoxy resins used to line aluminum cans - is harmful to laboratory animals.
In a first-of-its-kind newspaper analysis this month, the Journal Sentinel reviewed 258 scientific studies that looked at the effects of bisphenol A on live laboratory animals with spines, and found that an overwhelming majority of those studies indicated the chemical is toxic, even at doses below those considered safe by U.S. regulators.
And two government panels, including one that has come under fire as being biased toward chemical-makers, warned this year that bisphenol A might be dangerous to developing fetuses and children younger than 3.
A check of local stores indicates that moms are heeding the warning, and Blackmore's experience at USA Baby is not isolated.
Switching baby's bottle
Whole Foods recently expanded its aisle display of Born Free baby bottles, which are bisphenol A free, due to heightened demand. Other local purveyors of glass and bisphenol A-free baby bottles, including Babies R Us in Brookfield and Happy Bambino in Madison, have also witnessed a growing market for these bottles.
"Glass bottles are really hard to keep in stock," said Damis Newman, sales representative at Happy Bambino. "I get at least a couple of calls every day asking about glass," or bisphenol A-free bottles.
Carrie Clement, a mother of two in West Allis, said she just recently switched from Avent polycarbonate bottles to a bisphenol A-free plastic bottle.
"It's so unfortunate that I even had to make this choice," she said. "I feel angry by the fact that bisphenol A has been shown to contribute to health issues and yet the companies still make baby bottles with it."
However, not all parents are buying into the concern.
Angelique Fehr of Milwaukee decided not to switch her almost 1-year-old son to a bisphenol A-free bottle. She said she didn't find the evidence against bisphenol A compelling enough to toss her bottle supply and buy new ones.
"After reviewing all the information," she said. "I decided I was not concerned about bisphenol A any more than I am concerned about any other environmental toxin."
But throughout the country, parents are seeking alternatives to polycarbonate bottles.
Many companies are now offering alternatives to their standard lot of polycarbonate bottles, including Gerber, which makes the Clearview bisphenol A-free bottle, and Evenflo, which has a line of glass bottles. Both Born Free and Medela have always made bisphenol A-free bottles.
Michael Greenman, executive director of the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council, the trade group for glass makers, said there has been an increase in sales in recent months. He did not have exact figures.
"Some mothers and families would rather not have the bisphenol A possibility," he said. "There has been a rebirth of that (use of glass bottles) and we're pleased with that, and we think it's quite appropriate." Sales rise with awareness
Jim Thor, vice president of promotions for the Los Angeles-based NurturePure, which sells glass baby bottles online, said his company has seen sale spikes, with the biggest increases in California and Canada, where lawmakers have given the issue a lot of attention.
"Nationwide, we've had an increase in sales of over 500 percent over a six-month period of time," he said, declining to disclose sales figures or the number of bottles sold.
He said from May to August sales increased by 87%; from August to September, 97%; September to October, 163%; and October to November, 271%.
"A lot of parents want to go more toward a glass bottle, but there are still concerns about durability," he said. However, his company plans to release a new glass bottle soon that is wrapped in a silicone shell. It also is looking into bisphenol A-free plastic bottles.
He's confident the increase in sales will continue as more attention is focused on bisphenol A.
"It's surprising the amount of parents who are not yet aware," he said.
Bet your mom had no problem getting you to burp, either.
So did I and I can't give you an exact reason why, I had access to both. I just prefered the glass ones. I felt like the plastic ones were never really clean I guess.
I moved to NY from the Northwest this last year, and I'm looking forward to "Passover Coke", made with cane sugar instead of the HFCS! In the market area I live in, there's bound to be a supply of it.
“It’s so unfortunate that I even had to make this choice,” she said. “I feel angry by the fact that bisphenol A has been shown to contribute to health issues and yet the companies still make baby bottles with it.”
Yeah, well lady, glass is just as bad. Anyone who has drunk or anyone that will ever drink out of glass will die.
“It’s so unfortunate that I even had to make this choice,” she said. “I feel angry by the fact that bisphenol A has been shown to contribute to health issues and yet the companies still make baby bottles with it.”
Yeah, well lady, glass is just as bad. Anyone who has drunk or anyone that will ever drink out of glass will die.
“It’s so unfortunate that I even had to make this choice,” she said. “I feel angry by the fact that bisphenol A has been shown to contribute to health issues and yet the companies still make baby bottles with it.”
Yeah, well lady, glass is just as bad. Anyone who has drunk or anyone that will ever drink out of glass will die.
The “test” is worthless as it doesn’t say what sort of containers the water was “boiled” in. [aluminum, stainless, etc; glass, plastic, etc]
The potted plants obviously were watered to different saturation levels.
It was a childhood experiment; anybody want to try this at home?
So did I and I can’t give you an exact reason why, I had access to both. I just prefered the glass ones. I felt like the plastic ones were never really clean I guess.
I have never seen a glass container change properties, but I have seen plenty of plastic food containers change.
—microwaving your baby’s formula kills the nutritional value of the milk......
-are you all over this one yet?
I would agree....but, then we’d be considered “weird.”
We’ve switched to glass baby bottles for the toddler, and have eliminated most plastics but are continuing to weed out more. Thought N might be interested in this article.
Tnx, fwding to Mrs. Bruck
I agree
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