Our Take on BPA

We have so many concerned mums coming into our shop looking for more information on BPA free products. With the media flooded with BPA warnings lately, it's created a massive awareness of BPA, yet we are still finding that it doesn't explain what it is in simple terms. So, we have created an easy to read low down on what BPA actually is, and why we stock BPA free products.

In simple terms, BPA, also known as Bisphenol-A, is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, which can be found in plenty of our everyday products, for example: drink bottles, food containers, adhesives, cell phones, household appliances, eyeglass lenses and much more. Products containing BPA have been on the market from the early 1950's till current day, and in the last few years the harms of BPA have come to light.

A description of BPA according to the Food Standards of Australia
"BPA is an industrial chemical commonly used in the lining of food and beverage packaging to protect the food from coming in contact with metal. Food packaging ensures foods are not contaminated and extends the shelf life of products. BPA may be found in items or containers that come into contact with food such as drinking vessels, polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, plastic tableware and the internal coating on tins for tinned food. In some circumstances, chemicals in food packaging can migrate into the food depending on the nature of the packaging and the food."

Australia hasn't banned the use of BPA, and the Food Standards of Australia have found that the levels of the chemical in our products are low risk. Therefore, it's up to you what you would like to use, so it's good to make an informed decision. There are plenty of facts about BPA and we have posted below the websites we found most informative.

At Cherrie Baby we carry only BPA free products, we like to play it safe here! Cherub Baby glass bottles are 100% BPA, PVC, Phthalate and Polycarbonate free, and have plenty of other features which add to the attraction, such as the natribottles change colour when they are too hot. Awesome, right? We find it a better to invest in a great quality Cherub Baby products rather then running the risk of using plastic which may contain BPA.

Food Standards of Australia
Wikipedia - Bisphenol A

"The problem is, BPA is also a synthetic estrogen, and plastics with BPA can break down, especially when they're washed, heated or stressed, allowing the chemical to leach into food and water and then enter the human body. That happens to nearly all of us; the CDC has found BPA in the urine of 93% of surveyed Americans over the age of 6. If you don't have BPA in your body, you're not living in the modern world." The Perils of Plastic, TIME Magazine[1

Food Standards of Australia - Is there anything I can do as a consumer?

When using baby bottles, always follow the instructions on the infant formula for preparation and use. The following advice applies to all baby bottles or cups, whatever type of plastic they are made from:

• Discard any scratched bottles or feeding cups as they may harbour germs
• Do not put boiling or very hot water, infant formula, or other liquids into bottles while preparing them for your child
• Before mixing water with powdered infant formula, boil the water and cool it to lukewarm
• Always remember: do not heat baby bottles of any kind in the microwave – the liquid may heat unevenly and burn your baby

Sterilize and clean bottles according to instructions on infant formula labels and they should be left to cool to room temperature before adding infant formula.
* Food Standards of Australia published November 2010*