• The studies show that the exposure to BPA represents a risk to health
• The toxic substance is commonly found in plastic bottles, baby bottles and the coating on cans used for food and beverage

Tony Clement, Health Secretary for Canada

The Canadian Government announced last April 18th that Bisfenol-A (BPA as its English abbreviation) will be classified as a toxic substance and, therefore, will be banned for use in products that contain it such as polycarbonate plastic baby bottles.

The Canadian Health Minister, Tony Clement, said that, upon examination of 150 research studies as well as conducting their own studies, his department has come to the conclusion that children under 18 months were that segment most at risk from the chemical substance.

“The studies show that the exposure of infants to BPA increases the risk of some types of cancer, affects fertility and could be a factor in behavioral problems in infancy such as hyperactivity”.

“Therefore we consider the moment has arrived to elevate the margins of safety and make a correct decision”, he said in a press conference in Ottawa.

The designation of “toxic” will allow the Canadian Government to prohibit the manufacture, importing or selling of baby bottles made with polycarbonate material that resembles glass.

Besides baby bottles this chemical compound is frequently found in plastic bottles, the coating on food and beverage cans and dental sealants (the fine layer of plastic that dentists place on the chewing surface of teeth for prevention of cavities.

It has been shown that BPA migrates from the bottle to the milk; from the can coatings to the contents and from the kegs covered in epoxy to the wine; and it is found in the mouths of people who have recently undergone sealing of their molar surfaces.

Canada is not the only place where the subject has been discussed. Charles Schumer, the democratic senator from New York, has also has proposed introducing legislation to Congress that would ban many uses of BPA plastics, due to its harmful effects to health.

Schumer wants to ban the substance in infant products, including those related to feeding, as well as those products that infants may put in their mouth such as all those containingfood or beverages.

Vitro is a socially responsible company that has worked for nearly a century with glass, a material that is:

• 100% reciclable
• Inert on contact with its contents; food, beer & wine, liquor, beverages, perfumes, fragrances and pharmaceuticals.
• Impermeable to gases and does not require additives to conserve the contents.
• Safe as it does not suffer the phenomenon of flavor and odor migration.
• Completely environmentally friendly as it does not emit aggressive substances into nature upon its deterioration

 

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