Bisphenol A is a hormone-mimicking chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and resins commonly used for items such as shatterproof baby bottles. Bisphenol has estrogenic properties which, in animal tests has shown to cause a bevy of health problems such as an increase in prostate and breast cancer, uro-genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including insulin-resistant (Type 2) diabetes and obesity and neurobehavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Research is showing that when plastic containers, mostly those used to hold liquids and foods, are leeching Bisphenol into the foods and liquids they are holding. Heating food and liquids with these plastics is shown to increase the leeching of this contaminate.
Many companies use this chemical in their packaging including cans, soda cans, and plastic food containers. There is a risk of absorbing this chemical through the use of containing foods and liquids but can also leech into our water systems through landfills.
From another website: There are 7 types of plastic. Look under most plastic products and in the recycle symbol, there should be a number that indicates the type of plastic it is made from. Numbers 5, 4, 1 and 2 are safe for food. 3, 6 and 7 are not, with 7 being BPA.The Today Show also did a segment on BPA last week. Once again, repeating the warnings on the numbers 3, 6 and especially 7. The guy pretty much said run from a 7.
My friend Steph had sent me a great website months ago about BPA and safe plastics. I thought I was pretty informed on the subject or so I thought.
I've been making all of Julia's food from day 1. It just seemed to be a healthier alternative. It's really not too time consuming either because I tend to batch "cook" and freeze it in cubes. One of the things that my book Super Baby Food recommends on not making yourself for Julia's age range is carrots. Apparently, carrots have a very high nitrate level. This is one food where the author recommends on purchasing the food or avoiding it until the baby is a little older. The baby food manufacturers monitor the nitrate levels on carrots so buying jarred carrots for baby is supposedly a safer option.
The other day at Target, I was walking by the baby food section and thought, hmm, carrots, why not? I bought about 6 little packs of Gerber Organic Carrots. I figured going organic could only help. Julia probably had 2 or 3 packs of the carrots when it dawned on me to check out the number on the bottom of the plastic packaging. My mouth about dropped. Would you believe it was a 7!?!? How about that for ridiculous, organic carrots are packaged in a container that is made from polycarbonate plastic, yes folks, Bisphenol-A. Nice, huh? I'm still shaking my head at that one. I guess it's going to have to be organic carrots in glass jars from now on.
If anyone is curious, here's a great list on BPA free baby bottles & sippy cups (but no baby foods ;)
2 comments:
Hi, I am the author of www.amomsblog.wordpress.com, first thanks for the link back to my site.
You will be happy to know that Gerber's containers do not contain BPA. While #7 usually indicates polycarbonate, or BPA, plastics, it can also be a catch-all for bio plastics and those made with more than 1 type of plastic. The latter is the case with Gerber.
However, Gerber's baby food containers are made from #1 and #6 plastics -- #6 is polystyrene aka styrofoam. It should be avoided. I did an article specifically on this as well.
http://amomsblog.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/bpa-in-gerber-baby-food-containers/
I called Gerber twice and both times they said #6 and #1 were used. Gerber's Puffs container is made from #2, which is safe. I was not comfortable with any of Gerber's other product packaging. All seemed to contain #6 polystyrene except for the Puffs.
Of course there is the glass jar variety, but BPA often lines the metal lids (but at least contact is minimal). I also read in Baby Bargains that Gerber at least at the time added sugar to their baby food even though it was not listed on the label. Sad they are the baby food giant!
Good luck in your quest to make your own baby food. I hope to do more of this with #2 when he/she arrives, we'll see how that goes with having to work full time!
Trisha
www.amomsblog.wordpress.com
I should have told you to keep away from plastic ready food for babies, I read about that too...
Don't trust Gerber or anybody else as a matter of fact to have your baby best interest at heart! No matter how much crap they sent you in the mail, they want to make money and that's it as far I'm concerned.
Steph
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