Hmmm...

[VeloVT]

Hmmm... I feel like this kind of issue sometimes gets pushed aside when the science threatens corporate interests... it's no surprise to me that Canada is taking action on this and the US is dragging its feet:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/bu...=1&oref=slogin

I wish that public health agencies (like FDA) were less influenced by politics (one way or the other) and money (FDA is funded by Congress and I believe officials are appointed to serve "at the pleasure of the president', so between reps (of either party) who have lobbyists to answer to and White House ideologues, lots of opportunity for the interests of science and public health to be frustrated).

[Pax]

Along those same lines, Canada outlawed hydrogenated oils a long time ago...here it's still pervasive in our food.

[kelownagirl]

Along those same lines, Canada outlawed hydrogenated oils a long time ago...here it's still pervasive in our food.

We did? We still have hydrogenated fats in our food.

[kelownagirl]

So do ALL bottles have the chemical in them? Of not, how do you know which ones do and which ones don't?

[Grog]

Canada is working on banning trans fats but it's not there yet (and there are huge challenges). I don't think it's quite the same...

[OakLeaf]

So do ALL bottles have the chemical in them? Of not, how do you know which ones do and which ones don't?

Assume polycarbonate contains bP-A unless it's advertised as bP-A free.

[Mr. Bloom]

I understand where you're coming from...but labeling or no labeling - publicity can still have the same impact.

Consider how diets changed before the "food pyramid" changed...(and how bogus the food pyramid remains to this day...)

[kat_h]

So do ALL bottles have the chemical in them? Of not, how do you know which ones do and which ones don't?

I think MEC was one of the first companies to stop selling the ones with the chemical, so if you're a MEC fan then just shop there.

[firenze11]

I'm really glad they're doing this. According to the news last night, a lot of companies up here have already started to take the bottles off the shelves. I really thought just about everyone knew about the BPA problems but not so much. I spoke to my friend today and she was telling me that her bottle, one of brands w/ BPA, was starting to smell funny and she was going to throw it out. I was really surprised she was still using it considering how much it has been in the news lately. Then I found out she doesn't read/watch the news at all

The only problem I've had after getting rid of mine over a year ago is that I drink less. For some reason I drink a lot more when I can see how much I have to drink.

[OakLeaf]

Trouble I'm having is 5-gallon glass bottles are so... freakin.... heavy (even when they're empty!) - and hard to get, also. Three-gallon glass bottles are nonexistent AFAIK.

I know, I know, talk to DH about us living year-round someplace where water is not only plentiful, but also safer out of the tap than filtered water in a polycarbonate bottle.

[Zen]

There was a segment on NPR about that this afternoon. It's also in the lining of infant formula cans.

[Jolt]

The only problem I've had after getting rid of mine over a year ago is that I drink less. For some reason I drink a lot more when I can see how much I have to drink.

Nalgene makes the same style of bottles from another type of plastic (UVPE, which, I believe, is HDPE with a UV inhibitor and has no known toxic-chemical issues). Look for the milky white ones; these are the UVPE. They have the same markings on the sides to show you how much you have in there . As an added bonus, if you're a backpacker, these bottles weigh less than the othehr kind.

[GLC1968]

Nalgene makes the same style of bottles from another type of plastic (UVPE, which, I believe, is HDPE with a UV inhibitor and has no known toxic-chemical issues). Look for the milky white ones; these are the UVPE. They have the same markings on the sides to show you how much you have in there . As an added bonus, if you're a backpacker, these bottles weigh less than the othehr kind.

I have two 20 year old Nalgene bottles that I bought for a backwoods trip in Wyoming in the late 80's. They are milky white and not the super clear that the newer bottles are...do we think these are pre-PBA bottles? Does anyone know if there is anyway to find out?

[Jolt]

I have two 20 year old Nalgene bottles that I bought for a backwoods trip in Wyoming in the late 80's. They are milky white and not the super clear that the newer bottles are...do we think these are pre-PBA bottles? Does anyone know if there is anyway to find out?

I'm pretty sure from your description that they are non-BPA--they sound just like the kind I'm using. You can look for the recycling symbol on the bottom and if it's number 2 (instead of number 7) it's the HDPE/UVPE that is not made with BPA and was, I think, the original material Nalgene used for all their bottles.

[kelownagirl]

I heard on the news this morning, that we should avoid bottles with a '7' in the recycle logo at the bottom of the bottle. I threw mine out today. I don't like those hard bottles anyway. I need something I can squeeze and that has a pop top lid.

I found this.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, allows manufacturers to make a rigid and translucent product known as polycarbonate plastic, often - but not always - identified by a triangle surrounding the number 7. In canned food and beverages, especially acidic vegetables and fruits, BPA-resin liners stop the contents from eroding the metal container.

Canadian retailers have been pulling bottles from the shelves since the announcement was made. They clearly won't be waiting for the ruling to come down.