175x175bottles

All things considered, it would probably be wise for parents to use glass bottles for formula and for storage of breast milk.  There are glass bottles now on the market, including the classic Evenflo bottle. I also like the Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottle.

In 2008, I published an article about the Canadian government banning polycarbonate infant bottles, the most popular variety on the market, after it officially declared one of their chemical ingredients toxic.

The Canadian action, by the departments of health and environment,was the first taken by any government against bisphenol-A, or BPA, a widely used chemical that mimics a human hormone. It has induced long-term changes in animals exposed to it through tests.  In 2012, the FDA in the US banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups.

Curious to see the current status of the brouhaha around plastic baby bottles , I googled “plastic baby bottles.”   The first three entries are from two trade groups representing manufacturers of plastic containers and from one formula company, Similac.  Interestingly, the Similac information for their trademarked bottle design doesn’t mention the material from which the bottle is made at all.  Wouldn’t you want to know that?  The “Similac Advance Tub,” which holds a large amount of Similac powder, is clearly made from plastic, but again there is no mention of what kind.

The fourth entry on Google is an article from WebMD.  It compares the advantages of glass and plastic bottles:

“Which is safer, glass or plastic? Here is some background on baby bottles plus some tips on how to choose — and use — bottles safely and effectively.

“The problem with glass bottles is pretty obvious — drop one on the floor in the middle of a late-night feeding, and you’ll have a roomful of shattered glass to clean up. Glass is also heavy and cumbersome. On the upside, glass bottles are sturdy, and they don’t contain any chemicals that could potentially get into the baby’s formula.

“Plastic baby bottles are lightweight, strong, and unbreakable. However, concerns have arisen about the polycarbonate type of plastic bottles because they contain a chemical called bisphenol A (also called BPA). Bisphenol A is also used in everything from compact discs to the lining of cans, as well as other consumer products. A 2007 report by the organization Environment California showed that when heated, five popular brands of BPA-containing plastic baby bottles leached high levels of bisphenol A.

“In studies of lab rats, low levels of BPA were linked to changes in the brain and reproductive system that researchers say may contribute to an increased risk of prostate and breast cancers, ovarian cysts, endometriosis and early puberty.”

Personally, I try to avoid all plastic storage containers, but must admit that I’m not a purist, unless it comes to food stored for my grandchildren.  Then I am.