Posted on 12/26/2007 6:18:55 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Local moms are playing it cautious when it comes to their babies' bottles.
Retailers throughout southeastern Wisconsin say they have seen a swell of interest in glass and bisphenol A-free baby bottles in the past few weeks. So much so that a store manager at USA Baby in Brookfield said manufacturers have been unable to keep up with his customers' demands.
"We've really seen a surge in the last month," said Tom Blackmore, manager of USA Baby. "It's been hard to keep glass bottles in stock."
A growing body of research indicates that bisphenol A - a chemical used to make the hard, clear plastic called polycarbonate, as well as the epoxy resins used to line aluminum cans - is harmful to laboratory animals.
In a first-of-its-kind newspaper analysis this month, the Journal Sentinel reviewed 258 scientific studies that looked at the effects of bisphenol A on live laboratory animals with spines, and found that an overwhelming majority of those studies indicated the chemical is toxic, even at doses below those considered safe by U.S. regulators.
And two government panels, including one that has come under fire as being biased toward chemical-makers, warned this year that bisphenol A might be dangerous to developing fetuses and children younger than 3.
A check of local stores indicates that moms are heeding the warning, and Blackmore's experience at USA Baby is not isolated.
Switching baby's bottle
Whole Foods recently expanded its aisle display of Born Free baby bottles, which are bisphenol A free, due to heightened demand. Other local purveyors of glass and bisphenol A-free baby bottles, including Babies R Us in Brookfield and Happy Bambino in Madison, have also witnessed a growing market for these bottles.
"Glass bottles are really hard to keep in stock," said Damis Newman, sales representative at Happy Bambino. "I get at least a couple of calls every day asking about glass," or bisphenol A-free bottles.
Carrie Clement, a mother of two in West Allis, said she just recently switched from Avent polycarbonate bottles to a bisphenol A-free plastic bottle.
"It's so unfortunate that I even had to make this choice," she said. "I feel angry by the fact that bisphenol A has been shown to contribute to health issues and yet the companies still make baby bottles with it."
However, not all parents are buying into the concern.
Angelique Fehr of Milwaukee decided not to switch her almost 1-year-old son to a bisphenol A-free bottle. She said she didn't find the evidence against bisphenol A compelling enough to toss her bottle supply and buy new ones.
"After reviewing all the information," she said. "I decided I was not concerned about bisphenol A any more than I am concerned about any other environmental toxin."
But throughout the country, parents are seeking alternatives to polycarbonate bottles.
Many companies are now offering alternatives to their standard lot of polycarbonate bottles, including Gerber, which makes the Clearview bisphenol A-free bottle, and Evenflo, which has a line of glass bottles. Both Born Free and Medela have always made bisphenol A-free bottles.
Michael Greenman, executive director of the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council, the trade group for glass makers, said there has been an increase in sales in recent months. He did not have exact figures.
"Some mothers and families would rather not have the bisphenol A possibility," he said. "There has been a rebirth of that (use of glass bottles) and we're pleased with that, and we think it's quite appropriate." Sales rise with awareness
Jim Thor, vice president of promotions for the Los Angeles-based NurturePure, which sells glass baby bottles online, said his company has seen sale spikes, with the biggest increases in California and Canada, where lawmakers have given the issue a lot of attention.
"Nationwide, we've had an increase in sales of over 500 percent over a six-month period of time," he said, declining to disclose sales figures or the number of bottles sold.
He said from May to August sales increased by 87%; from August to September, 97%; September to October, 163%; and October to November, 271%.
"A lot of parents want to go more toward a glass bottle, but there are still concerns about durability," he said. However, his company plans to release a new glass bottle soon that is wrapped in a silicone shell. It also is looking into bisphenol A-free plastic bottles.
He's confident the increase in sales will continue as more attention is focused on bisphenol A.
"It's surprising the amount of parents who are not yet aware," he said.
(And when can I get the media to pick up on yet another manufactured panic that will make ME gobs of money? Dang!)
Well...it’s more likely the warming in the microwave IN THE BOTTLE may be the problem....JMHO
Lets see if you sold no glass bottle last month and one mother bought five this months how much would that be. Be back in an hour are so gone to hunt calculator. LOL
EVERYBODY PANIC!
A Coca-Cola always taste better out of a glass bottle verses the plastic bottle. (in my consumer-report opinion)
Any bets on the time of the first class action lawsuit??
>>>”Glass bottles are really hard to keep in stock,”
Breasts aren’t :)
We heat the milk in a glass in the microwave, then pour it into the bottle. Problem solved.
We heat the milk in a glass in the microwave, then pour it into the bottle. Problem solved.
Agree.Same with Absolut and Smirnoff:-))
I used glass bottles with all four of the babies. Last baby is ten. It was getting difficult to replace them back then. I sterilized them with formula. Kept the bottles and the sterilizer.
I just didnt like the looks or smell of the plastic ones.
You are 100 percent correct.
I accidentally did an experiment regarding plastic versus glass for leftovers and results were interesting.
I purchased some glass refrigerator containers (with plastic lids) in different sizes for leftovers. I then put some leftover mac & cheese in each and refrigerated. The stuff in the plastic container started smelling off in about four days. The stuff in the glass container, on the other hand, was good over a week-and-a-half later. I now use glass containers only and there really is a difference.
Don’t they use disposable plastic liners in the bottles anyhow? So the milk never touches the actual bottle?
Huh. A fresh dose of chemicals every time?
Sarcasm off.
i would think most bottles are polyethylene which is hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen - the same atoms that make up most of the human body and a molecule that is the same as body fat.
Breastfeed the baby. Then you don’t have to worry about this stuff. I nursed four without bottles (no, not all at the same time). It was cheaper and easier.
Why not drink right from the tap?
Even Whiskey !?!?!?!
Any kind of heating of most plastics causes leaching of all kinds of chemicals in small amounts which diminish over time. It is prudent to avoid this substance until further study is made.
I would also strongly advise new parents to avoid soy-based formulas if your baby is excessively gassy or lactose-intolerant and your MD recommends them as a substitute. Isoflavones in the soy products can affect certain glands in your baby such as the thyroid and pituitary, which affect growth. Also in rare cases, sex-based abnormalities can develop, such as breasts in boys, and testicular issues. It is ok to use it infrequently, but never rely on soy formula. As always, of course, if you can breastfeed, there is nothing better.
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