BPA is a known carcinogen that can leach into baby food from polycarbonate baby bottles. Continued washing using dish washing or other harsh soaps can break down plastic bottles and cause the migration of BPA into food stored in these bottles.
Baby foods stored in cans usually suffer long exposure to the polycarbonate inner lining. Again BPA found in the polycarbonate will migrate to the stored food. Normally foods removed from polycarbonate lined cans are covered by PVC derived plastic wraps, another known carcinogen.
Pregnant women should avoid BPA derived polycarbonate bottles and refrain from eating canned foods. The plastic lining in food cans contain polycarbonate. BPA is known to mimic the behavior of DES, an artificial estrogen banned for use by pregnant and nursing mothers.
Since most plastic is made using BPA and the labels do not normally indicate the use of this toxin, it is important look at the bottom of the plastic container or baby bottle and check the SPI code in or around the recycling triangle. It is also important to note that SPI labeling requirements vary between states in the USA.
The letter code PET or PETA represents polyethylene terephthalate and is also identified by the number 1 inside the recycle triangle. This type of plastic is said to be safer than PVC or polycarbonate. The code HDPE is represented by the number 2 inside the recycle triangle. High Density polyethylene (HDPE) is used primarily in toy manufacture and other food containers or plastic bags.
PVC is not normally used for food containers but can be used in plastic food wraps. It is labeled a number 3 in the triangle, along with the plastic called LDPE or number 4, it is used commonly in plastic food packaging and squeezable sport bottles.
Polypropylene abbreviated PP and identified by the number 5 is less toxic than most other plastics. Plastic number 5 is used to package foods like butter, margarine and yogurt. Plastic number "6" is polystyrene. Next time you pick up a non-paper egg carton, check the recycle triangle to see if it is also labeled with the letters "PS"
The SPI originally had six codes, the number 7 was added to include new plastics that combined the resins of the previous six, and can include plastics with BPA or plastics derived from natural biodegradable sources.
