Which Prepared Baby Food Containers are BPA Free?

UPDATED 2/3/09

Concern about the harmful affects of bisphenol-a (BPA) in polycarbonate plastic baby feeding gear is spreading quickly.  Unfortunately, BPA is also commonly found in epoxy resins used for protective linings in canned food, ready-to-feed infant formula and metal lids of baby food jars.  A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found such widespread exposure to BPA may result in levels of up to 11 times higher in infants than in adults.  Research has suggested that young children are more susceptible to the harmful affects of environmental toxins and scientists are calling for more sensitive testing methods to determine what a safe level would be, specifically for children.  And to top it all off, a recent UK study raised the concern that BPA may remain in the body longer than previously suspected.

Lowering our children’s exposure to environmental toxins is a necessity, but avoiding BPA can be difficult because it lurks in so many unsuspecting products.  We have to wonder where it will show up next when the chemical industry is pumping out more than 7 billion pounds of the stuff per year.

We’ve started the search for BPA-free baby food containers to help you out.  If you need information on baby formula, please review the Environmental Working Group’s helpful list here.

Commercially Prepared Baby Food in BPA-free Containers

• Sprout Baby (brand new – just announced by Healthy Child 2/3/09)
• Yummy Spoonfuls
• Happy Baby
• Plum Organics
• Homemade Baby
• Tasty Baby
• Fifi Bear’s
• Maddy’s Organic Meals
• Parent’s Choice (they don’t make baby food in glass jars)
• Gerber (all baby food products except glass baby food jars are BPA-free)
• Beechnut (plastic containers used for juices, Stage 2 fruits, Good Morning, Good Evening and DHA plus+ juices are BPA-free; glass baby food jars do contain BPA)

Baby Food Containers using BPA

• Earth’s Best (they told us that BPA is used in minute amounts in the glass jar lids, but that independent testing showed no BPA contamination in the baby food.  Use your own discretion here)
• Beechnut (they told us that their glass baby food jars contain trace amounts of BPA)
• Gerber (glass baby food jars only)
• Nature’s Goodness

We’ve tried to to contact Heinz repeatedly but we haven’t received an answer yet.

Have we missed any BPA-free brands that you know of?  If so, leave a comment and let us know

We do recommend making your own baby food if possible and storing it in reusable containers such as Baby Cubes, Fresh Baby Trays or glass storage dishes.