If You Use Plastic, Opt for BPA-Free

August 30, 2013|Food & Beverage, Hydration|Caroline Sarda2

We all need to stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water. What better way to do that than with a compact water bottle that you can carry with you. But not all water bottles are created equal. Let’s explore BPA and why choosing a BPA-Free water bottle is the healthier way to go.

Bisphenol A (also known as BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been used in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that studies employing standardized toxicity tests support the safety of current low levels of human exposure to BPA. “However, on the basis of results from recent studies using novel approaches to test for subtle effects, both the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and FDA have some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.” ¹

What is the FDA doing about BPA?

The FDA is taking steps to reduce exposure to BPA in the food supply by:

• Supporting the industry’s actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and infant feeding cups for the U.S. market;
• Facilitating the development of alternatives to BPA for the linings of infant formula cans; and
• Supporting efforts to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels in other food can linings.

What are some ways you can stay BPA-Free?

• Stay away from any product made of hard, clear plastic unless the manufacturer specifically states that it’s BPA-free.
• Plastics marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA so try avoiding those in your kitchen.
• Stay away from canned products, ranging from canned beverages to canned foods like soup, pasta, fruits and vegetables. They are almost always lined with BPA.
• Use glass, porcelain and stainless-steel containers, particularly for hot foods and liquids.
• Use BPA-Free plastic bottles like the one below.

 Here is what one of my clients said about her BPA-Free Water Bottle

“Wow! OK, I never thought I’d be writing a review on a water bottle but I couldn’t not after the first time I used it! Where do I begin? At the bottom, I guess. Barely tapered at the bottom, I just like the lines of the bottle. It’s BPA free, gotta love that! The middle gripper is so easy to grasp, speaking of grasping, the top of the bottle has this nifty ring thing that makes holding the bottle awesome because instead of fumbling with other water bottles while trying to get my keys or anything else out of my purse, I only need one finger to keep hold of the bottle. The color is cool, too, even better in person. the flip pour spout is outstanding. It has a convenient pull tab so I don’t get my finger tips (germs) on the spout itself. Plus it closes securely keeping my water IN my bottle, not all over my purse or car! I can either sip from the spout or pour it into my mouth, glass, whatever. Oh, and it holds a good amount of liquid. You will LOVE this bottle!”

 

Just like with everything, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Even if the majority of the studies of BPA were done on animals, I don’t need to worry about an extra chemical in my food or containers. I only use BPA-free plastic, glass, porcelain, and stainless steel in my home.  What about you?

Resources

[1] http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bpa/AN01955

You may also want to read: Are Your Plastic Containers Safe? 

Disclaimer: My client received this BPA-free water bottle as a gift. When she told me twice how much she loved it, I ask her to share her feedback.