Retail BPA Ban

Much has been made recently about the use of the plastic chemical bisphenol-A (also known as BPA) in a myriad of different products, especially baby bottles. In the wake of research claiming that BPA isn’t safe, Wal-Mart, CVS, and Toys ‘R Us have decided to pull all baby bottles made with BPA off of their shelves. Animal studies show that small doses of BPA have been linked to cancer and other health problems, so why hasn’t something been done sooner?

BPA is everywhere, used to make polycarbonate, a rigid, clear plastic for bottles, bike helmets, DVDs and car headlights. It’s also an ingredient in epoxy resins, which coat the inside of food and drink cans. About 93% of Americans tested by the Centers for Disease Control had the chemical in their urine.

If opponents drive BPA out of the food supply, consumers will pay. Some BPA-free plastic bottles sell for $10 each, more than twice the price of bottles with BPA. Baby bottles made of glass can break, potentially causing injury. Replacing BPA in the lining of cans would mean retooling all that packaging, and it’s not clear that there are safe alternatives.