The study says that these bottles contain “trace amounts”, but some sources cite an internal memo, which says that two brands contain “high doses”.
For their part, bottle manufacturers claim that the study must have been performed wrong.
Many manufacturers rushed to make BPA-free bottles and sippy cups after Canada banned the endocrine disruptor from gear for young children and babies. Although the U.S. hasn’t banned BPA, consumers here have benefited from our Northern neighbor’s efforts, as companies don’t generally want to make product of different chemical compositions for similar markets.
But now, it seems we were all a bit duped by “BPA-free” claims. Health Canada tested 9 different brands of bottles, and all seemed to leach at least trace amounts. Scientists aren’t sure whether this was a byproduct of the manufacturing process, and asked that this matter be studied further.
They also won’t give the brand names of the companies teted, especially the two with the highest amounts.
And they’re generally still considered safer than the alternatives. According to the Winnipeg Free Press:
Since these “BPA-free” bottles leached less than polycarbonate plastic bottles under conditions designed to simulate repeated normal use, the government researchers concluded these bottles made of polysulfone, polystyrene or polypropylene (non-PC) are a “reasonable alternative” to the banned polycarbonate (PC) bottles.