August 16, 2007

Dear Denise and Alan Fields,

Your opinion and recommendation to parents regarding plastic baby bottles appears to be based on the erroneous interpretation of the most recent scientific conclusions. It directly contradicts the opinions of regulators around the world who specifically looked at bisphenol A (BPA) science and concluded that there is no reason for parents to be concerned about use of plastic baby bottles. In fact, in its most recent letter (July 31, 2007) sent to Fit Pregnancy magazine the FDA – the top health and medical authority in the United States – concludes:

…FDA has confidence that no safety concerns exists for BPA in regulated food contact materials. Furthermore, FDA has determined that the polycarbonate-based baby bottles and BPA-based epoxy coated cans used to hold infant formula is safe.

The panel of scientists organized by the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), after thorough review and evaluation of all available scientific data, found little reason for concern.

Moreover, there is overwhelming scientific evidence backing the safety of plastic baby bottles. Definitive studies and scientific reviews supporting the safety of polycarbonate plastic have been conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Harvard University, the National Toxicology Program, the European Food Safety Authority, the German Federal Institute for Risk Analysis, and the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.

This is why Born Free, which you promote as an alternative to polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, was recently directed by the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau to discontinue its advertising campaign claiming polycarbonate plastic baby bottles were unsafe.

We kindly ask you to consider a revision to your position. We are willing and able to provide you with scientific studies and/or access to experts who can help you sort through the facts. There is a great deal of information on this subject and not all of it is sound. One of my organization’s goals is to educate parents on the safe selection and use of children’s products, such as plastic baby bottles. With so much for parents to be legitimately concerned with, it is disheartening to see the spread of misleading information. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about this matter.

Sincerely,

Mike Dwyer
Executive Director
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
856-638-0420 ext 4409
mdwyer@ahint.com

There is an overwhelming body of scientific evidence supporting the safety of plastic baby bottles. Definitive studies and scientific reviews conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Harvard University, the National Toxicology Program, the European Food Safety Authority, the German Federal Institute for Risk Analysis, and the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology indicate that polycarbonate plastic, the material often used in plastic baby bottles, is safe.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently affirmed the safety of polycarbonate baby bottles, stating:

“FDA has confidence that no safety concern exists for BPA in regulated food contact materials. Furthermore, FDA has determined that the use of polycarbonate-based baby bottles and BPA-based epoxy coated cans used to hold infant formula is safe.”

http://www.fitpregnancy.com/yourpregnancy/1062

The scientific consensus is that polycarbonate plastic baby bottles are safe. There shouldn’t be any room for confusion or fear on this.

Amy Chezem
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association