PLASTIC PERILS - Monday 23 February 2009
by the Extra Team
New research suggests plastic products could be hazardous for your health if you heat it or even just re-use it.
Doctor Gary Deed from Mediwell says if you want to play it absolutely safe, you're best not to heat up plastic, freeze it or even re-use it.
The plastics you should pay particular attention to are those with the numbers 7, 6 or 3 marked on them.
These are the recycling numbers. They indicate what materials went into making the plastic product.
The products with these numbers include:
· Disposable coffee cups
· Meat wrap
· Some reusable water bottles
· Baby bottles
Some take-out containers also fall into the high-risk category. Studies have found traces of a chemical called BPA in these plastics.
It's been linked to:
· An increased risk of miscarriage
· Decreased testosterone levels
· Breast and uterine cancer
· Effects on hormonal systems in the body.
So how can we protect ourselves? If you're able to push plastic to the side, there are alternatives such as glass and aluminium containers.
But if you do want to use plastic, the same Californian study found safer choices include bottles crafted from plastic #2, #4 and #5.
They're generally safe to re-use but Gary also advises against reheating them.
Bisphenol-A Free Bottles
Medela breastmilk bottles are BPA-free!
Medela breastmilk bottles and breast pump kits are BPA-free as are all Medela products that come into contact with breast milk.
Medela bottles are made from polypropylene, a plastic which does not contain BPA. It is easy to identify bottles made from polypropylene. It is a soft, semi-cloudy plastic and typically has the Recycle 5 symbol and/or PP on the bottom of the containers.
As the industry leader in breast pumping and breastfeeding, Medela is committed to always doing what is best for mums and babies. Medela products have always been and continue to be BPA-free.
You can buy Medela Breast pumps and breastmilk bottles by clicking here.
Mums are searching for BPA-free products. In addition to our Breastmilk Feeding and Storage Bottles, which have always been BPA-free, all Medela products that come into contact with breastmilk are BPA-free.
Below are some common questions that will help you determine if a bottle is BPA-free and where you can find Medela BPA-free products.
What is Bisphenol-A?
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate plastic is commonly used to make consumer products. This type of plastic is clear and shatter-proof. It is commonly found in products such as water bottles, food storage containers, toys and many types of baby bottles not made by Medela.
Do Medela Breastmilk bottles or other products contain BPA?
No. Medela breastmilk bottles and all our products that come in contact with breastmilk are and always have been 100 percent BPA-Free. Medela breastmilk bottles, storage containers, feeding products and breast pump kits are made with polypropylene. All existing research maintains that polypropylene is safe.
What about the recycling numbers?
The recycling number is associated with the type of plastic used. Since most products are made using one of six resins, codes 1-6 describe a single specific type of plastic. Polypropylene for example is identified by recycling code number 5, and July contain the letters “PP” underneath. (See example of code below.)
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Recycling code number 7 is slightly different because it stands for “other” which can encompass other single resins or a combination of resins. Polycarbonate, which contains BPA, carries recycling code number 7 as it is not one of the 6 as described above. (See example of code below.)
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The majority of Medela products that come in contact with breastmilk have a recycling code labeled with recycling code number 5. The only components not made from polypropylene include one of our white 80 ml storage container caps and a handle on the Harmony breastpump. These are made from PBT – a combination of safe plastics that is 100 percent BPA-free. However, because it is a combination plastic, it also carries recycling code number 7.
As the industry leader in breastpumping and breastfeeding, Medela is committed to always doing what is best for mums and babies. Medela products that come into direct contact with breastmilk, including all breastpump kits and breastshields, all collection and storage bottles, as well as our feeding systems have always been made with BPA-free plastic.
You can buy Medela Breast pumps and breastmilk bottles by clicking here.
BPA is found in items or containers that come into contact with foodstuffs such as drinking vessels, 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 product, and vice versa, depending on the nature of the packaging and the food contained within.
For more information on Bisphenol-A follow the links below
Bisphenol A (BPA) and food packaging:
Food Strandards Australia Fact Sheet
Toxic Baby Bottles:
Environment California Health Report
BABY ALERT:NEW FINDINGS ABOUT PLASTICS:
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/consumerbaby.htm
Are Plastic Baby Bottles Harmful?:
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1711398,00.html
Possibly Unsafe Chemical Found in Baby Bottles:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3450831
