It was announced last week that the Government of Canada is taking steps to protect the health of Canadians and the environment from bisphenol-A (BPA), or more specifically the health of babies. There has been a good deal of controversy surrounding polycarbonate baby bottles and their safety since 1999 because of the BPA found in the polycarbonate plastic. 

BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical that has been associated with causing alterations in brain chemistry and structure, behaviour, the immune system and male and female reproductive systems. BPA is also suspected of promoting breast cancer. The problem is that bisphenol-A may leach from the polycarbonate plastic into breast milk or baby formula when heated for 20 to 30 minutes at 100 degrees centigrade (212 degrees Fahrenheit).

What do we need to do? Get it out of the plastic altogether. Luckily, there are alternatives on the market, glass bottles and new BPA-free bottles are starting to pop up. This is fantastic news. But when the same government representatives that announce these fantastic new steps, are found to be handing out BPA-free bottles to infants in the same press conference, we (and they) should be shaking our heads. Why should we be angry? Check out Suzanne Elston’s blog post Banning the Bottle for a clear description of why we all should be banging down our MP’s door.

To read more about the Government of Canada’s initiative and BPA, read their document Bisphenol-A.

I found a link to a super-cool article posted on The Guardian’s website yesterday. It got me very excited!

Little Angels, a community interest company which trains breastfeeding per supporters in central in Lancashire, United Kingdom, has launched a breastfeeding campaign to promote breastfeeding among young mothers. Using the slogan “She’s not a celebrity, she’s a star”, the company created a series of posters featuring young, cool mothers breastfeeding their babies, with hope that they would counter the common perception among young moms that breastfeeding is merely “something for hippies”. The campaign also produced a series of radio ads, and has a website with breastfeeding blogs written by the young mothers starring in the posters.

How super-cool is that?!?! Check out the campaign website for more information and to access the breastfeeding blogs. 

This is something we definitely need to do here in Canada. I’d be willing to pop my daughter on the boob for a national campaign, would you?