Politics & Government

Brown Signs Butler's Baby Products Bill

The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act prohibits BPAs in baby products.

A bill intended to protect the health of children and authored by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, D-Marina del Rey, has been signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown. Butler represents Hermosa Beach in the 53rd Assembly District.

The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act prohibits the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A in baby products.

More specifically, baby bottles and sippy cups that have a BPA level of more than 0.1 parts per billion are now banned from being manufactured, sold and distributed in California.

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Ten other states, as well as China and the European Union, have similar prohibitions.

In an interview with Patch last week, Butler said that she can't imagine the rise in levels of autism, cancer and other diseases "doesn't have to do with the amount of plastics in our life and this cocktail of chemicals. A lot of these chemicals we don't know much about, especially in conjunction with other chemicals."

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BPA, an artificial hormone and endocrine disruptor, seeps out of containers and enters food and drinks. In children, BPAs have "the impact of estrogen," Butler said.

Butler last week wasn't sure whether Brown would sign the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act. "It's hard to know [if Brown will sign] the bill," she said. "He may or may not."

Now environmental activists cheered Brown's signing of the bill.

"Sheer moxie and persistence by our champions in Sacramento and their supporters across the state made this day possible," said Environmental Working Group's California Director Renee Sharp in an interview. "This time, care for the health and well-being of California's children trumped the money and influence of the chemical lobby."

Other supporters included the California Nurses Association as well as the California Medical Association; American Academy of Pediatrics of California; the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and Consumer Reports' advocacy division, the Consumers Union.


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