I thought I’d never hear from AVENT after they released their media statement but hey, they did!
Good to note that the Senior Manager for AVENT’s Global Public Relations finds it important to reply…
Here’s what Mr. Robert Rooney has to say:
I’m writing to respond to your email of July 2…
We fully understand your concern regarding the BPA discussions that have been in the media. We want to reassure parents that we remain fully confident in the quality of our baby bottles, which have been used by millions of healthy babies in over 70 countries worldwide since they were introduced.
Our bottles have been approved by different well reputed Health Organizations and Food Agencies from all over the world. These countries, like the UK, United States, Japan, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway and the rest of the European Union apply extremely strict regulation for baby products consumption. As recently as June 2008, the US Federal Drugs Administration (FDA) reconfirmed its long standing view regarding the safety of polycarbonate for food contact, including its use with baby feeding bottles. In 2007, the European Food Safety Authority actually increased the level of BPA it thinks is safe.
We would like to inform our customers that Philips AVENT provides choice for parents who are concerned about this topic. Our Magic range and Via range are made of polypropylene and contain no BPA. These bottles can be also used for feeding your baby using your usual Philips AVENT Airflex Teat. As you noted in your recent posting, we are also introducing an additional BPA-free alternative to our range.
We understand that some retailers in Canada have offered returns on bottles with a valid receipt of purchase. We continue to provide choice to our consumers and to support Canadian consumers at a particularly challenging time we provided free samples of our Magic range.
In your recent post you had an additional question about the use of boiling water to sterilize bottles and nipples. As is the case with using a steam sterilizer, the point is not to use the water used to sterilize the bottle to make a feed.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
With kind regards
Robert
My comments:
1. I need to do a bit more research. Despite the US FDA and European Food Safety Approval mentioned, it remains that:
in the Z report on BPA in infant care products.
- AVENT’s bottles contain BPA
- AVENT still ranks as POOR
2. Mr. Rooney implicitly responds that mothers in Malaysia CANNOT return their AVENT bottles to retailers, as they have supported the Canadian retailers’ proactive response.
3. He misunderstood my question on the use of hot water to sterilise baby bottles, which I posted earlier here.
To make it clearer, my question is “Can we continue to boil the bottles in hot water for 5 minutes as a way to sterilize the bottles?” Note that this method is RECOMMENDED by AVENT itself (see pic above) in the tiny sticker leaflet accompanying each new pack of bottles and nipples.
When I reread AVENT’s media statement again, it’s clear that they DON’T recommend boiling the bottles in water because their media statement says:
“As far as BPA leaching is concerned, while there is some evidence of elevated leaching at high temperatures, any leaching is far below the limits set by EFSA and the FDA.”
They strongly recommend the use of the AVENT steam sterilizer.
This is really bad news for the average, working breastfeeding Mum like me. You see, when I was shopping at this time for breastfeeding essentials, I took note of:
a) the breast pump I’d use
b) the bottles that would fit the pump
c) the milk storage bottles
c) the storage bag to keep the expressed breast milk in clean and cool conditions
As a practical and cost-efficient mother, I want the choice of buying high quality baby bottles but not to the extent of having to get special bottles that fit the pump.
For now, AVENT’s range of breast pumps and bottles are a luxury item since you can only sterilize them using the AVENT steam sterilizer!
I tried unsuccessfully to switch from AVENT bottles to another brand.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Choose carefully the brand of breast pump and bottles you buy. Once you start your baby on a particular type of bottle, it’s very unlikely he’d accept another type easily since he/she grew up on them!
You can check out the various BPA-free brands listed in the Z Report.
MOTHERS What do you feel about this? Do share your thoughts!
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve just changed from Avent to MAM bottles recently. MAM bottles are BPA-free and cost less too! Other advantages:
(1) MAM bottles are wide-necked so they fit Avent breastpumps hassle-free.
(2) Avent nipples fit the MAM bottles as well but you won’t be able to close completely using the MAM caps because Avent nipples are slightly longer.
I had just moved Bryan to the MAM bottles 2 months ago and he was ok with the different nipple shape. But if your boy is used to the Avent nipple, then you can still use the old nipple with MAM bottles.
You don’t need to use Avent sterilizers to sterilize Avent bottles, I have been using Tommee Tippee all along. The Tommee Tippee sterilizer is cheaper but they can accomodate wide-necked bottles like Avent too.
I have been considering MAM too, but what puts me off is that it appears like the bottles have holes at the bottom. So not sure yet.
Paik Ling – Thanks for sharing this! Nice to know MAM bottles fit AVENT nipples and pumps. Saves me the trouble of shopping around for substitutes (which I loathe doing). Will check them out soon…hopefully in China or HK.
Giddy Tigers – How much cheaper is the Tommee Tippee sterilizer? I tend not to go for too many add-ons or accessories. I prefer multi-functional products/processes
Call me lazy…
Btw I tagged you
http://pakumuse.blogspot.com/2008/08/tag-little-known-facts-about-me.html
they really lost lots of customers bcoz of d BPA thing…
i have a feeling a lot of companies out there are using non-safe substance too. sigh…
I use a regular electric steamer to sterilize my bottles & pump. To me, it is the steam that does the sterilization, so it doesn’t matter which brand it is. Just have to make sure that the steam can access all the parts of the bottles/ pump for full sterilization.
The steamer I use also comes with ceramic pots for double boiling purpose. So i find it really multipurpose. Can cook, sterilize & double boil nutritious soup.
Paik Ling – Thanks for the tag! Will do it soon…
Chinnee – Yes, I think they have. If only they had handled this better.
Zewt – You mean baby bottles or other stuff?
Shooi – Sounds like a pretty good steamer esp if it CAN steam baby bottles well and work for other uses too.
Avent ‘s BPA free bottles are in stores now ( the honey colored material). A bit expensive, more than Born free bottles!
I feel very disturbed reading this… sigh. I was a fan. Everything from sterilisers (I hv 2), bottles, warmer (I have 2 also), pumps.. I hope they don’t let me down.
I even uses their warmer all day to warm up my boy’s bottle.. so that milk making is a task away (I’m that lazy). Maybe I should write to them too if it would cause any BPA esposure. Isshh…..
Milspse28 – Thanks for this update! Are you referring to stores in Malaysia? That’s pretty fast as AVENT mentioned end of 2008.
Yvonne – Wow…you really got a lot of AVENT items eh? Only their VIA range and sippy cups is BPA-free. All the other clear plastic stuff are not. Yes, do write to them. When they hear from people, they’d be inclined to do something!
oh my, this is confusing….
i think all baby bottles manufacturer should start change all their bottles to be BPA-free!
It is impossible to control that these bottles (that contain BPA) would always be in cool temperature ( which means no sterilizing?)
Sarah’s Mama – Yes, I think that’s the idea now. You can still use steam and the boiling method to sterilize your bottles. Avoid using the same sterilizing water to to make the milk as that water MAY contain BPA. Throw away the sterilizing water and also replace your bottles if there are scratches or cracks.
so what is the conclusion is avent product can still be used.it is safe?
i’m a first-time mom and i was planning to use avent bottles for my baby due in may. but can i use another sterilizer instead of the avent brand because the sterilizers are priced too much for the average mom. or do you recommend another brand? i plan to do breast and bottle feed alternately so i want a bottle that has similar nipples as to the mother’s. any recommendations?
Moh – Do check out my response to Sarah’s Mama above. I’m still using my regular AVENT bottles but replace them after about 3 months’ usage.
Summersolstice – I understand as I was in the same boat as you too. I think there are cheaper sterilizers in the market but you do need to check if the bottles you’re going to use will fit in.
I’ve only used AVENT and Tupperware but found AVENT really good for breastfeeding esp with it’s ISIS pump. As you’re just buying your bottles, do get the BPA-free ones (if you can afford it).
All the best with baby and breastfeeding
is it necessary to use the BPA-free ones? relatives have been giving me the avent naturally regular bottles (brand new and still sealed in it’s box). do you think i’ll still be able to use the ones given?
I tried my MAM bottles on my ISIS pump . it screws in but not completely. Did not try if there is still suction. How come Paik ling says hers fits hassle free? The nipple does fit though.
Summersolstice – I’m using the regular AVENT ones because I’m stuck with them. Just make sure you don’t pour hot water directly into the bottles ok!
NA – Thanks for sharing this with us. Have you checked if there’s suction using the MAM bottle? I don’t have my pump with me…
checked with avent distributor in taman molek jb yesterday. asked the saleslady whether avent plan to do anything regarding the bpa bottles. she told me that it is okay, as their products are taken from their singapore office, and that it is still business as usual. i still have brand new bottles and teats that i don’t know what to do with. my cousin has stocked up avent products for his older kids and newborn baby as well. looks like avent sucks! they don’t plan to do anything about this bpa.