Bisphenol, commonly known as BPA and an important monomer for plastic additives, has been banned by Minnesota from being used in baby bottles and sippy cups and food containers for use by children under the age of three. Although New York’s Suffolk County had passed a similar measure last month but Minnesota is the first to completely ban BPA in the US.
The government passed a law, which prohibits manufacturers from selling children’s products containing BPA starting next year January and retailers to remove all products containing BPA by January 1, 2011.
BPA has been suspected of being hazardous to humans for a long time. Canada was the first to ban the use of BPA and also BPA had been voluntary banned. Retail giants like Wal-Mart have said a no to selling children’s products containing BPA. In March, Sunoco told its investors that it will not sell BPA product to customers with intension of using it to make baby food and beverages for children less than three years. Sunoco was the first producer to voluntarily stop customers to use a BPA product.
Six consumer product manufacturers also recently said they will stop using plastic containing BPA in their baby bottles.
Recently, federal lawmakers established bills to ban the use of BPA in baby products. Senators Diane Feinstein (D., CA) and Charles Schumer (D., NY) introduced a bill in the Senate, and Representative Edward Markey (D., MA) reintroduced a similar bill in the House.
Although research is going on, FDA has ruled out that BPA in food and beverage containers does not pose a health risk. ACC says there is no scientific evidence to support a ban on BPA’s use in food and beverage containers.