Toys 'R' Us to phase out bisphenol A baby bottles

All baby bottles containing the controversial chemical bisphenol A will be pulled of Toys "R" Us shelves by the end of the year, the retailer said Monday.

The company's move to phase out products with the chemical follows Friday's federal government announcement that Canada will ban the import and sale of polycarbonate baby bottles containing bisphenol A (BPA). If the ban proceeds, Canada will be the first country in the world to limit BPA.

The government ban would affect only baby bottles and not other containers made with the chemical — a synthetic chemical compound found in some hard, clear plastics and resins, such as food and drink containers, electronics and the liners in many metal cans.

Studies in peer-reviewed journals have indicated that even at low doses, the chemical can increase breast and ovarian cancer-cell growth and the growth of some prostate cancer cells in animals.

The government said a Health Canada assessment found that while newborns may be sensitive to the chemical, it does not pose a health risk for most Canadians.

Wal-Mart said last week that it too expects to phase out all bottles containing the chemical by the end of 2009.

Popular water bottle manufacturer Nalgene Outdoor Products announced Friday it will stop producing the containers because they are made with BPA.

The Rochester, N.Y.-based company said it will phase out production over the next several months, but will continue to make containers from materials without the chemical.