Following the release of a U.S. government report on Tuesday,
saying that a dangerous chemical called bisphenol A (BPA), present in plastic
packaging such as baby bottles, might be harmful to the development of
children’s brains and reproductive organs, Wall-Mart announced Wednesday that
it was immediately halting sales of baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, food
containers and water bottles made with BPA in its Canadian stores.
The report, by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, also
described BPA as “weakly estrogenic,” being suspected of having biological
effects on other hormonal processes such as those involving androgens and
thyroid hormones.
Bisphenol A is a synthetic hormone that has been shown to
leach out of a certain type of plastic when heated, endangering the health of
consumers. Hard polycarbonate plastic is used in baby bottles, toddler cups,
water bottles and other recipients.
Wal-Mart has sold BPA-free baby bottles for several years alongside
with the chemical. However, Wednesday was the first time the world’s largest
retailer indicated it would convert its entire
"We are working hard to expand our BPA-free offerings," Wal-Mart representative Nick Agarwal wrote in an e-mail to the Washington Post.
Moreover, the company that makes Nalgene water bottles, (Nalgene outdoor Products, a unit of Thermo Fisher Scientific), says it will stop using the chemical as well. “Based on all available scientific evidence, we continue to believe that Nalgene products containing BPA are safe for their intended use. However, our customers indicated they preferred BPA-free alternatives, and we acted in response to those concerns,” a company official said in a statement quoted by the New York Times.
Mike Schade of the Center for Health, environment and Justice, an environmental advocacy group, which has long lobbied against the use of BPA said: “Major retailers can be a force in effecting positive change. Parents shouldn't have to roll the dice with their children's health at the checkout aisle.”