Beyond BPA: Court Battle Reveals A Shift In Debate Over Plastic Safety

John Hamilton

February 16, 2015

NPR

 

BPA-free isn't good enough anymore if you're trying to sell plastic sippy cups, water bottles and food containers.

 

The new standard may be "EA-free," which means free of not only BPA, short for bisphenol A, but also free of other chemicals that mimic the hormone estrogen.

 

At least that's the suggestion of a recent legal battle between a chemical company and an academic scientist with business interests in the plastics industry. The proceedings offer a glimpse of the struggle for the hearts and minds of consumers concerned about the safety of plastics.