04/02/2021
Baby bottles containing harmful substances sold in pharmacies across Egypt
Egyptian mothers usually trust reputable baby bottles brands with “BPA free” labels, but Cairo University’s Micro Analysis Center detects varying percentages of the toxic substance moving from plastic to babies milk in these bottles
I anticipated the birth of my child with excitement. I was fully prepared, and made sure I bought the best quality of everything she would need. After some research and consultation, I bought an imported (plastic) baby bottle labelled “BPA [Bisphenol A] free” at five times the price of normal bottles, only to discover that I bought a lie.
I stood in the pharmacy, eyeing the shelves where the plastic baby bottles were stacked, and glanced at the bottles labelled “BPA free”.
I had several concerns about the effect of BPA on my baby‘s health. After a quick Internet search, I found warnings about the dangers of this substance to human health in general, and that of infants in particular. Since, I have dug deeper into BPA and learned more about its effects.
This investigation documents the commercial fraud of how major brands of plastic baby bottles do not comply with Egyptian safety standards, and are sold in the market with “BPA Free” labels despite the high levels of harmful BPA they contained as revealed after our lab analysis. In 2011 the European Committee for Food Security banned the use of BPA in the production of baby bottles all together.
BPA is a chemical substance introduced into plastic manufacturing in the 1960s. It is mostly used in the production of food and beverage containers as it gives extra strength, stiffness and high temperatures resistance.
The health risks resulting from of the infusion of this chemical substance from the plastic into the fluid inside the include endocrine disorders, infertility for men and women and precocious puberty, in addition to hormonal tumors such as breast and prostate cancer and metabolic disorders, according to studies conducted by researchers at the Polish Gdansk University and the Iranian Isfahan University.
Over two million children are born in Egypt every year, according to the Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics. Over 2.3 million babies were born in 2018 and again in 2019.
Nowadays, bottle feeding is more widespread in Egypt. Hana Aboulghar, a pediatrics professor at Cairo University says that UNICEF puts the percentage of breastfeeding in Egypt at just 30%.
She adds that one of the main reasons for the increase in bottle feeding is the premature decision mothers make to introduce powder milk formula to their new born baby, as they are unaware that breast milk begins to flow in abundance three to five days after breastfeeding begins. Formula milk on the other hand, is readily available in all pharmacies.
This growing reliance on artificial feeding has led to an increase in the sale of bottles for formula milk, used from the first day of the life of new born. In 2016, the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics announced that on top of locally-manufactured baby bottles, Egypt imports just $176,000 worth of baby bottles annually.
Mothers also prefer plastic bottles over glass because, as Radwa Tantawi, an engineer and mother explains, they are unbreakable.
“I sometimes don’t even take notice of the ‘BPA free’ labels, though I am aware of the danger associated with BPA”, she said, adding that she relies on well-known brands and automatically considers them to be safe.
A survey of 120 mothers conducted by ARIJ reporter demonstrated their preference to use plastic bottles. 62.9% of those surveyed have said that they prefer plastic bottles over glass ones as they do not break, they are more practical and are lighter to hold.
BPA, used in manufacturing plastic baby bottles, has various health side effects including tumor of the prostate and mammary glands, and could cause immune system disorders. It has also been shown to disrupt the functioning of glands and the secretion of hormones.
Muhammad Jamal, a researcher at the Regional Center for Food at the Agricultural Research Center, adds that “the use of plastic baby bottles can cause sterility in the long term.”
Three-year-old children are most at risk from BPA exposure, according to Randa Hassan, a researcher at the Regional Food Center (an Egyptian compliance and standards monitoring agency). She says that infants at this age have not yet formed "Glucuronidases", an enzyme which helps combine the BPA substance with other compounds that facilitate its excretion, without causing the infant any health damages.
Hassan published a study in December 2018 on BPA in baby bottles and its interaction with high temperature and times of use. The lab experiment on mice revealed that the level of BPA toxicity takes a U shape, meaning that “a concentration of 50 micrograms, for example, has the same effect as 1000 micrograms" on the human and animal body.
The study also demonstrated that BPA seeps into liquids quicker at higher temperatures, and that BPA levels increase more in milk compared to water and anise.
ARIJ reporter went further to collect random samples of baby bottles from four different brands preferred by mothers participating in the survey, in order to carry out a laboratory test to measure the seeping ratio of BPA into liquids contained in those bottles. The price of baby bottles gathered ranged from 25 to 200 Egyptian pounds.
Researcher Sarah Ameen conducted the laboratory analysis to estimate the concentration of BPA in liquid. On August 18, 2019, we received the test result of the Center for Microanalysis at Cairo University which showed increased BPA levels, above those standards as set by the Egyptian health compliance authorities regulating baby feeding bottles.
Substance concentration : 0.681
Place/ distributor
:
Izbat an Nakhl pharmacy
Volume:
250
Substance concentration : 0.535
Place/ distributor
:
A pharmacy in Sayeda Zeinab area
Does not label BPA free
Volume:
240
Substance concentration : 0.446
Place/ distributor
:
Authorized distributor
Volume:
330 ml
Substance concentration : 0.719
Place/ distributor
:
Authorized distributor
Volume:
260
To ensure the accuracy of the initial results, a month later we collected six more random samples for testing. On November 11, 2019, the second laboratory analysis showed that the six samples also did not meet standards.
Substance concentration : 0.172
Place/ distributor
:
Al-Haleema AlJadeeda pharmacy
Volume:
280 ml
Substance concentration : 0.277
Place/ distributor
:
Izbat an Nakhl pharmacy
Volume:
250 ml
Substance concentration : 0.329
Place/ distributor
:
Izbat an Nakhl pharmacy
Volume:
280 ml
Substance concentration : 0.916
Place/ distributor
:
Qasr Al-Ayni pharmacy Mrs. Zeinab - Garden City
Volume:
260 ml
Substance concentration : 0.756
Place/ distributor
:
Moneera pharmacy
Volume:
250 ml
Substance concentration : 0.569
Place/ distributor
:
Al-Isa’af pharmacy
Volume:
300 ml
The Children’s Health Department at the National Research Center conducted a series of studies as part of a three-year project to define the risks associated with exposure to BPA. It found that the substance inhibits endocrine glands, and disrupts the functioning of the thyroid gland and the pancreas, confusing the infant’s body.
The human body recognises BPA as a hormone, leading to the malfunctioning of various glands, according to Mai Youssef, a researcher in the Children’s Health Department at the National Research Center.
A case study conducted by the National Research Center, showed an increase in the concentration of BPA in children’s urine, along with raised levels of glucose and insulin in the blood, increasing the risk of pre-diabetes, according to Ibtisam Salah, a researcher in the Children’s Health Department.
We approached five different local manufacturers and importers of the bottles used as samples in the experiment, as well as baby bottles manufacturers outside Egypt, requesting comments regarding our findings.
On February 6, 2020, we received the first and only response from the company that manufactures "Nick" products in Egypt, who said that inquiries should be sent to the German manufacturer, who have, to date, not responded.
Others brands like “Rikking” and “Pop Tone” did not carry any identifying data regarding the manufacturer nor the importer or any means of communication, in violation of the Egyptian Standard law No. 7595 of 2013, which requires products in the market to clarify the name of the manufacturer or the importer and the distributor address.
6 samples were tested but did not meet the set criteria
Before imported bottles are displayed on pharmacy shelves, they pass through a number of compliance assessing authorities in Egypt, starting with the customs, before heading to the Export and Import Control Authority for analysis, to ensure that the shipment meets Egyptian standard specifications.
We confronted Ismail Jaber, the head of the Control Authority, regarding the investigation’s findings, but he refused to answer our queries. We then sent a recorded letter with our request to the Authority.
On August 18, 2020, the Authority sent its response, stating that it takes samples from baby bottles imported from abroad, and subject them to tests according to the set standards. The authority indicated that from 2017 until July 2020, it did not reject any shipments of infant feeding bottles because they contained BPA, explaining that during that period 228 samples were presented to the authority, 223 of which met the standards.
The authority added that not all of the bottles available in the market are imported from abroad, and hence subjected to their compliance testing.
"The Authority is competent to control only those ‘feeding bottles’ coming from abroad. There are other authorities responsible for certifying the ones (manufactured and sold) in Egyptian markets ” their response read.
2 Random samples of bottles made in Egypt were tested.
The Industrial Control Authority is tasked with the certification of (feeding) bottles manufactured in Egypt, inspecting factories and ensuring that technical requirements are met for the safety of baby food containers before they are distributed to pharmacies.
On July 16, 2020, we sent the Industrial Control Authority a recorded letter enquiring about non compliant feeding bottles that were sold in Egyptian pharmacies and shops, but we did not receive a response.
Once these bottles are delivered to pharmacies they are not covered by the medicinal control laws, according to Mustafa Hassan, the Medicines Authority spokesperson, who said that feeding bottles are not covered by the authority’s rules and regulation, therefore they don’t fall within the Pharmacist Inspection Department.
We received an official letter on August 31 from the Ministry of Health, saying that baby bottles are not classified internationally as a medical equipment, and are not subjected to registration in the Central Administration of Pharmacists Affairs and the National Institute of Nutrition.
9 feeding bottles labeled “BPA free” were tested
From protecting infants against harmful substances to protecting mothers from deception, no one is accountable. Brands label their products “BPA free”, yet results (from our investigation) have shown that they contain varying degrees of the (banned) substance, in violation of Consumer Protection Law, which mandates “the supplier or advertiser’s commitment to avoid any deceptive behavior that leads to giving a false impression to the consumer regarding the nature of the product sold, its essential characteristics, the core material used to manufacture it, or its quantity.”
The Consumer Protection Department bases its work on complaints received from consumers in order to investigate baby bottles companies. But according to Suad Al-Deeb, a former member of the Department and head of the Special Union for Consumer Protection, “the authority does not act based on individual initiative, but bases its action on real complaints from consumers directly (not through an investigative report) and in coordination with the concerned authorities.”
“On what basis should I act (in this case) and based on what information?” she added.
She also denied the existence of any previous complaints regarding baby bottles and the harm they cause to infant’s health.
“We did not receive any complaints of that kind and we do not have this level of awareness amongst mothers (in Egypt). We are all trying to raise awareness and educate consumers regarding the products of unlicensed factories and factories that do not operate in accordance with the correct standards and specifications,” Ms Suad Al-Deeb told ARIJ.
Huda Majdy, an accountant and mother to a three-year-old, says that she uses the plastic bottle alongside breastfeeding. She does not pay attention to brand’s name when choosing a feeding bottle, and does not know what BPA is. For her, the most important thing in a baby’s bottle is to clean it well, with hot water after every feed, and boil it in water and vinegar every few days.
But our survey shows that Huda isn’t the only one unaware of the BPA substance and its risks:
78 participants answered the question regarding their knowledge of BPA as:
Dr. Khaled Al-Manbawy, the head of the Children’s Health Department at the National Research Center, said “the child health department's research project on BPA, aims to raise citizen and community awareness about its dangers”, pointing to the scarcity of information about its cumulative harm to human and public health. He also pointed to the necessity to prohibit its use in any percentage in all manufacturing of children's products, and the need to tighten oversight of products containing the substance (BPA), whether in merchandise produced at Egyptian factories or those imported.
After a journey that began while buying feeding bottles for my baby daughter from a pharmacy, it became clear that commercial fraud and loose control made me and so many other mothers, victims of companies that use harmful substances in children’s bottles, and sell mothers a fake sense of security.
