Rejoice! Playtex Products Inc., Gerber, Evenflo Co., Avent America Inc., Dr. Brown and Disney First Years have all announced that they will no longer market hard-plastic baby bottles containing bisphenol A (BPA). The industrial chemical has long been suspected of harming development of young children. Just last month, Fast Company magazine ran an expose on BPA and its potentially nasty effects — not to mention the effort done by the industry to suppress studies suggesting as such. From the article,

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in announcing the companies’ decisions on Thursday, said he and the attorney generals from Delaware and New Jersey had written to the companies last year, urging them to stop using the chemical, which mimics the hormonal activity of estrogen and can alter the normal workings of genes. Health officials cautious about possible ill effects believe that infants and children are at the greatest risk because of their quickly developing bodies and sensitive systems.

Unfortunately, such decisions do not carry an international vibe. At least one firm, Avent, will continue selling polycarbonate baby bottles elsewhere in the world. Nevertheless, this is a great start — though we encourage all parents to choose glass bottles if given the option. Continue reading more here.