- Health Professionals Calling for Further Guidance From Department ofHealth
Whilst a controversial chemical found in most plastic baby bottles hasbeen making headlines in North America, a poll by Bounty, the UK's biggestparenting club, revealed that 92%(1) of mums are not aware of the chemicalBisphenol-A. US retailers such as Wal-mart and Toys "R" Us are phasing outall baby bottles containing Bisphenol-A and the Canadian government isre-classifying the chemical as toxic and considering a ban on sales in thatcountry. In the UK, research amongst healthcare professionals (includingmidwives, health visitors, nurses GPs and consultants), whom Bounty has beenadvising on this issue over the last four months via a programme ofeducational presentations, shows that 86%(2) think the Department of Healthshould be providing further guidance.
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BPA is a man-made oestrogen used in most hard transparent bottles toprevent them from shattering. The levels previously believed to be safe arenow being questioned, as scientists have linked exposure of low levels of BPAto potential changes in neurological and sexual behaviour.
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The Department of Health recommends exclusive breast feeding for thefirst six months. However, concerned mums who are no longer producing milkand bottle feeding can try:
References:
(1) 2,800 mothers were polled through Bounty.com (sponsored byhttp://www.babisil.co.uk)
(2) Bounty research amongst 8,000 NHS healthcare professionals
For further information please contact Lisa Penney on +44(0)1707-294000or email [email protected] Switching to alternatives such as glass bottles, PP bottles (made of polypropylene and have a yellowish tinge) or newer silicone bottles like the new Babisil range; - Not heating hard plastic bottles in the microwave or pouring boiled water into them (instead wait 30 minutes for the water to cool in the kettle); and - Throwing away bottles that are scratched or damaged. Editors notes: - Bounty (http://www.bounty.com) is the UK's favourite parenting club, providing information, support and products for young families throughout the four key-life stages: pre-birth, birth, toddlers and pre-school. - With 2.1 million members and over 50,000 new members joining every month, Bounty has approximately 95% market coverage of the estimated 750,000 annual births in the UK. - http://www.bounty.com is the UK's favourite parenting website and the largest online meeting point for mums in the UK with over 19 million pages being served each month, 700,000 opted-in members and a further 15,000 new members joining each month - Bounty is a Kaboose company - Kaboose is one of the largest family-focused new media companies in the world and one of the top-five most visited family destinations online (http://www.kaboose.com).
SOURCE Bounty
