The Use of BPA in Baby Bottles: Regulatory Challenges in Dealing with Uncertain Risks

If parents seek information about this BPAfree label, the product instructions do not elaborate on its meaning or rationale. Searching online would expose a wealth of information about the possible risks and uncertainties surrounding products containing BPA. It is a sensitive topic of debate as such products are intended for one of the most vulnerable groups within society: children under the age of three. BPA is systematically framed as a risk by the media. It is arguably the new buzzword in media coverage on chemical risk regulation 2,3 . Bisphenol A, a synthetic chemical used in the production process of polycarbonate (plastics), is currently making headline news in the US and the EU. Its questioned safety in materials in contact with food stuffs, baby bottles and children's toys has turned plastics into a political issue.