TUESDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- The controversial plastics
chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is now banned for use in baby bottles
and sippy cups, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced
Tuesday. The move was prompted by a request in October from the
American Chemistry Council, which represents industry, as a way
to clarify for consumers that BPA will not be found in these
items. BPA has a checkered history, with many consumer advocate
groups pointing to studies suggesting the chemical might disrupt
hormones and trigger a host of unhealthy changes in children and
adults, including cancer, obesity and developmental/reproductive
problems. In its ruling, the FDA said that, effective Tuesday,
it is now banning BPA-containing resins in "infant feeding
bottles [baby bottles] and spill-proof cups, including their
closures and lids, designed to help train babies and toddlers to
drink from cups [sippy cups]." In a news release, the National
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) applauded the move but said it
still of