Question by Paige

Dr. Brown’s makes several types of bottles. The Handi-Craft website shows bottles made of glass, polypropylene and polycarbonate. Glass is always a safe choice (and recyclable). Dr. Brown’s cloudy-looking plastic bottles are made of polypropylene, the same plastic used to make many food storage containers. Polypropylene does not contain BPA and is a better choice than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate plastic should be avoided! Polycarbonate is made from a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) which is an endocrine disruptor that interferes with reproductive development and hormones. The clear plastic Dr. Brown’s bottles are polycarbonate.  
   
BPA has been associated with reproductive abnormalities in tests on animals, there isn’t much data yet on whether BPA could be causing the same problem in humans. We do know that over 90 percent of the general population carries residues of BPA in their bodies. We also know that a number of animal studies have found abnormalities at levels of exposure similar to what people have in their bodies today. Although we can’t say with certainty that BPA is causing the same problems in humans as it does in the laboratory animals, the weight of scientific evidence should prompt us to avoid BPA exposures whenever possible.   
   
Replacing any polycarbonate bottles with glass or polypropylene bottles is a good first step. BPA is also used to line the inside of metal food and soda cans and leaches from the can liner into the food. To reduce your exposure, drink less canned soda and eat less canned food, especially those that are tomato-based. Look for canned tomatoes in cardboard boxes or glass containers and buy formula that isn’t in cans.