Protect your family from BPA

The simple task of reheating last night’s dinner or preparing a bottle of formula for your child could actually be putting the health of you and your family at risk.

Research has shown some plastics are made from a compound that’s been linked to all kinds of health problems – from cancer and heart disease to obesity and even brain damage.

This dangerous compound known as BPA (Bisphenol A) is an “industrial chemical used as the starting material for the production of polycarbonate plastics and synthetic resins” (Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, 2008).

It is commonly used in the lining of food and beverage packaging to protect the food from coming in contact with metal. BPA may be found in items or containers that come into contact with food such as drinking vessels, polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, plastic tableware and the internal coating on tins for canned food. Depending on the nature of the packaging, the chemicals found in food packaging can migrate to the food.

As reported on 60 Minutes recently many countries have banned or are phasing out BPA; alarmingly Australia isn’t one of them. Click here for more information on the 60 Minutes story.

Even though Australia has not banned the use of BPA there are some manufacturers who have made the decision not to use this hazardous chemical in their products.

As a leading Australian manufacturer of houseware and kitchenware products, our organisation Starmaid International is such company whose products are BPA and lead free.

Adrian Cursio, Managing Director at Starmaid said, “Knowing the potential health risks of this product we (Starmaid) have been active in ensuring we do not use these materials in the manufacturing of any of our products.”

Companies such as Starmaid, manufactures the majority of their products using polypropylene. Polypropylene is a premium grade food safe material that will not leech chemicals into the food. Polypropylene is a very durable and strong plastic, which is able to hold liquids with a temperature of up to 100°C.

In 2008 the Canadian Government responded to consumer concerns about the effects of BPA and prohibited the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles. The Canadian Government is not the only country to listen to consumer concerns with a number of other countries acting to protect the health of their citizens.

As leaders in prohibiting the use of BPA in products, Canada has also listed BPA as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.