Health experts are calling on the government to ban babies’ feeding bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) – and recall products already on the shelves.

ITN News reports that scientists, children’s charities and the National Childbirth Trust say there is ‘compelling evidence’ linking the chemical – commonly used in plastics – to breast cancer risk.

Experts say that young children may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of BPA, which is frequently used in the manufacture of drinking bottles.

Breast Cancer UK has released the details of a survey that questioned 2,000 adults about whether the UK government should ‘act in a precautionary way’ regarding the use of BPA in plastic bottles for infants and very young children. The researchers found that 50 per cent of those questioned ‘strongly’ agreed and 29 per cent agreed.

Baby bottle producers in the US banned the substance in March this year in response to ‘consumer demands’. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing the use of BPA after some scientists questioned its ruling that the chemical is safe for use in babies’ drinking products.

Breast Cancer UK has published a letter sent to Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham from scientists at leading universities in Britain – including Stirling, Ulster, London, Plymouth and Reading – that are backing the charity’s ‘No More BPA’ campaign.

The experts are calling for the government ‘to adopt a standpoint consistent with the approach taken by other governments who have ended the use of BPA in food contact products marketed at children’.

© 5r1 Limited 2009