October 10, 2011

Makers of the controversial chemical bisphenol A want regulators to end restrictions of the chemical in baby bottles and sippy cups. The American Chemistry Council says bisphenol A (BPA) is no longer used to make plastic bottles and cups for children so regulations are unnecessary. The council says recent state bans on BPA in baby products have added to the confusion about whether baby bottles sold in the U.S. contain BPA. The group says manufacturers of bottles and sippy cups announced several years ago they had stopped using BPA due to customer preference.

California recently joined 10 other states in banning BPA from infant feeding containers. The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act prohibits the sale of bottles or cups designed for children three years old or younger that contains BPA. Studies have linked the chemical to problems with the reproductive and nervous systems and even some cancers.

The American Chemistry Council says the Food and Drug Administration has the responsibility to make regulatory decisions about BPA and other food-contact materials. That’s why the group opposes federal and state legislation that conflicts with the FDA’s authority. The FDA said last year there was ‘some concern’ about the effect of BPA on the health of infants and young children.