Ban on infant feeding bottles produced from polycarbonate
Like many industry bodies, including the British Plastics Federation, the SPRA is concerned about Scottish legislation which has been introduced banning infant feeding bottles produced from polycarbonate. The legislation change has been prompted by a EU Directive imposing the ban across Europe but runs contrary to scientific opinion.
The issue centres on bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer used in the production of polycarbonate. The residue of unreacted BPA in polycarbonate is typically of the order of 0.5 parts per million and a small part of this residue can be leached into foodstuffs. BPA is also produced from polycarbonate degradation when the polycarbonate is heated for long periods and in contact with certain foodstuffs. The combination BPA from monomer residue and degradation can reach values of 0.5 parts per billion.
Since 1930, BPA has been identified as a potential endocrine disruptor, exhibiting hormone-like properties, similar to many other natural and synthetic chemicals. BPA is not an endocrine disruptor as it does not show any reproducible evidence of adverse effects as a result of hormone-like properties. Like many naturally-occurring substances and everyday foodstuffs, BPA shows very weak, oestrogen-like activity, but only at extremely high levels to which humans can never be exposed. This measurable oestrogen-like activity is still significantly lower than that of soy beans or even an everyday plate of carrots at comparable levels, for instance.
The human body rapidly metabolises BPA (half life less than 5 hours) and eliminates BPA and its biodegraded products in urine. Newborns can similarly clear BPA at levels far in excess of the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI).
In recent years there have been many studies of BPA as a potential health hazard, with some conflicting conclusions. In 2010 the European Food Standards Agency was asked to review the literature on BPA (some 180 papers) and came to the conclusion that there was no need to change the existing TDI (0.05 mg/kg body weight per day) and Specific Migration Limit (0.6 mg/kg food). This Scientific Opinion was expressed by a panel of 20 experts in the EFSA but one member of the panel submitted a minority opinion suggesting
“......studies indicate that adverse effects might occur in the developing offspring of laboratory rodents at oral dose levels below the current NOAEL.”
“ .......avoiding bottles made out of polycarbonate for formula-fed infants could significantly reduce their potential exposure.”
The EU legislators latched onto this last statement while ignoring the main body of opinion and rushed out the EU Directive banning infant feeding bottles made from polycarbonate.
SPRA submitted a response to the proposed ban to the Food Standards Agency Scotland on 14 January but the ban became law in Scotland on 01 March 2011.
Infant baby bottle manufacturers had been aware of the groundswell against BPA and polycarbonate and have already switched to alternative materials, polyesters, glass and stainless steel, not because there was anything functionally wrong with polycarbonate nor that they felt there were any health problems but merely to avoid the perceptions surrounding BPA.
The SPRA is puzzled that legislation has been brought in for a situation that effectively no longer exists but more concerned about the signals that the legislation puts out. Environmentalist will jump on the decision as proof that there is a health risk associated with BPA and with polycarbonate in particular. Although the FSA has publicly stated that it has “no current plans to further restrict or ban BPA in other food contact materials” it may be only a matter of time before there are calls for a ban on polycarbonate in other foodstuffs applications and even to medical applications of polycarbonate where there is no real cost effective material.
Polycarbonate is not the only manufacturing material associated with bisphenol A. The linings of many cans for foodstuff, including baby food, are coated with an epoxy resin synthesised from BPA but this application has not been addressed in the new legislation.
Report by C Geddes, SPRA Hon Secretary March 2011
