How do i eliminate usage of bisphenol-a, (B.P.A) plastic food and drink containers?

Question

As I understand it, bisphenol-a, or B.P.A is found in some clear hard plastics. I understand that Nalgene bottles for example have the chemical. I have also heard that plastic with the #7 inside the recycling symbol have the chemical. Is there any thing else i should look for? Do all hard clear plastic have the chemical?

Answer 1

its in all the pop and water bottles.

we should go back to returnable glass bottles.

Answer 2

My problem is that I think this whole issue has been exaggerated beyond all belief.  If you do a lot of research you will find that there have only been several very small studies done and on the basis of these and some other misinformation that all of this has come about.  The plain and simple fact is that this chemical has been used for about 50 years and there isn't any concrete confirmation that it does anything.  Having said that though what I am doing is using glass or metal containers when I can and hand washing my Nalgene bottles in warm soapy water.  I don't fill them with hot water anyway, they get filled with cold water and put in the fridge.  I'm not going to toss bottles that cost me $10 each when there is no definative proof anywhere.  Besides that we've been using plastic bottles for years and years and microwaved them and thus far most people are happy and healthy.

Answer 3

It's 3,6 or 7. Basically throw away and don't buy anything that has those numbers on the bottom. Check everything. I've found water bottle, food containers. Scary...

Answer 4

Well, I've switched to using Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles and my sister in law has started using glass baby bottles.

Plastics are extremely porous compared to glass and metal and as a result when liquid (regardless of temperature) sits in them they leach toxins. According to Fredrick vom Saal,  a biologist from the University of Missouri and 36 other scientists BPA is capable of  altering the normal functions of genes and have shown that exposure of lab animals to BPA causes changes in the prostate, testes, mammary glands, brain structure and behaviour and have warned that that BPA may be linked to the contemporary increases in breast cancer, prostate cancer, Type 2 diabetes, early onset of puberty in girls, obesity, and neuro-behavioural problems such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.

Now the Industry is claiming that the levels present in our packaging are safe...BUT, vom Saal's paper shows 100 percent of the industry-funded studies (11 in all) found no harmful effects from BPA, while 90 percent of government-funded low-dose studies (104 in all) found harmful effects from BPA.

# In the meantime, there are steps that we can take immediately to lessen our exposure to BPA: Use a metal or glass water bottle

# Limit your use of canned goods or choose canned foods from makers who don't use it, such as Eden Foods

# Learn how to cook your own foods that you typically buy in cans -- like beans or chickpeas

# Choose soups, milk and soy milk packaged in cardboard "brick" cartons, by Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc, with safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene (#2) that can also be recycled

# Use glass food storage containers instead of plastic

# Use glass baby bottles or plastic bag inserts made of polyethyelene, or switch to non-clear polypropylene bottles that are labeled #5. Don't buy canned infant formula.

# Eat fresh foods in season to reduce your consumption of canned goods

# Buy or can your own foods in safe glass jars

# Stop using plastic wrap and plastic containers to heat food in microwaves. Ceramic and glass are better.

# Throw out any old and scratched plastic bottles or plastic containers

# Buy organic wine since many commercial wines can have up to six times the amount of BPA than canned goods

# Let your grocer store know you want BPA free cans and are boycotting those products with BPA in them.