In 1993 I had a biochemistry professor that scared me out of drinking milk from plastic jugs for at least a year.  He claimed that when milk producers added milk to the just-warmed plastic containers a dangerous chemical released into the milk…hence America’s infertility problems. 

Then in 1999 an issue of Consumer Reports reported that small amounts of a chemical hormone found in clear plastic polycarbonate baby bottles seeped into infant formula when the formula was heated at high temperatures.  My professor wasn’t crazy after all.  But, both Consumer Reports and the FDA admitted that more studies were needed to evaluate the real risks posed to babies.

Now fast forward 8 years later to last Saturday night.  My husband and I went to have dinner with friends – Heather and Ashton – who have a precious 3-month-old baby boy named Asher (our Godson by the way). 

When we arrived at the house, Heather was furiously cleaning new glass bottles.  Breathlessly she told us about the University of Missouri study released Thursday (February 7, 2008) which found that parents who heat plastic baby bottles risk feeding their children a synthetic hormone – bisphenol A – which is reportedly linked with medical, reproductive, and developmental problems.

Specifically, according to the study, bisphenol A is used in making hard polycarbonate plastic and it leaches out of the bottles when heated to 80 degrees or filled with hot liquids. 

Heather explained that after panicked emails circulated throughout our new-parent circle of friends she called her pediatrician and asked, “Should I stop using plastic bottles?”  As you might expect, the pediatrician didn’t say yes or no, but she did say, “if you want to be safe” – as any mother would – “start buying glass bottles instead.” 

Surely this study will prompt additional studies, right?  Until then, I’m going to support glass bottles……while I drink my Starbucks from this plastic thermos.

www.tendertidings.com 

P.S. Happy Birthday Mom!