Bisphenol A

The chemical mimics the effect of the hormone oestrogen in the body; by binding with oestrogen receptors but not replacing the activity of oestrogen, Bisphenol A affects reproductive, neurological and immune systems.

Babies are particularly vulnerable to hormone mimicking-effects because they are growing rapidly, both in the womb and in their early months and years.

Bisphenol A has been shown to leach out of feeding bottles which are made from this sort of plastic. In the recent Canadian/US studies, however, the bottles did not leach Bisphenol A at room temperature.

It is polycarbonate plastic (clear shatter proof plastic) bottles, which often have the number 7 in the recycling triangle on the bottle, or the letters “PC” near the recycling triangle, that leach Bisphenol A.

There are plastic bottles on the market however that do not contain Bisphenol A, and glass bottles do not leach Bisphenol A.

Heating bottles or pouring hot liquids into bottles, and repeated washing which creates scratches, increases the rate of Bisphenol A leaching from bottles.  However in order to make up formula safely, feeds should be made up with water at 70^oC.  This is because formula powder is not sterile and may contain harmful bacteria.

For more information, see the NCT information sheet: Using Infant Formula.