Sigg reveals BPA in bottle lining prior to August 2008

Mom Types - Green Moms

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The Swiss manufacturer of a popular brand of reusable aluminum water bottle revealed last week that the coating on the inside of the bottles contained the controversial chemical BPA until August 2008 when the company quietly phased it out. Bipshenol A, usually referred to as BPA, is used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. The chemical may be harmful the nervous and reproductive systems, especially of young babies.

Unresolved issues about BPA safety

The U.S. government does not consider BPA in food containers to be a health hazard but many world governments disagree.  Canada has much stricter standards for BPA exposure and banned BPA in baby bottles.

According to the Environmental Working Group, 93 percent of American children and adults have daily exposures to BPA.  Adult exposures have been linked to risk of diabetes and heart disease and BPA may interfere with cancer treatment.  BPA-containing liners of liquid formula-can may expose formula-fed babies to unacceptable levels of the chemical.

Polycarbonate water bottles are a significant source of adult exposure and stainless steel or aluminum bottles like Sigg's are often recommended to avoid BPA.

Sigg secretive about bottle liner composition

Sigg is under fire for declining to confirm the presence of BPA in responding to the many pre-August 2008 inquiries as to the makeup of their bottle lining. Sigg has maintained that their tests reveal absolutely no BPA leaching from the bottle liners but never confirmed that BPA was in fact used in the liner until last week.  Sigg went so far as to demand that the advocacy organization Environmental Working Group prove that company's products contained BPA before recommending that people avoid the brand in their green living guides.

Old vs. new liner in Sigg bottles

Sigg revealed the changes to the bottle liner in an August 2009 letter from CEO Steve Wasik on their website.  The company also provided photos of the old and new bottles so customers can tell whether theirs was made with the BPA-containing lining.

Unconfirmed reports that Sigg is exchanging old bottles for new

There are numerous reports on the Internet that concerned customers may exchange bottles with the old lining by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  But this information is not on the Sigg web site.

Photo of Sigg bottle liner comparison, copyright Sigg. Photo of Sigg kids bottle, copyright Flickr user naturalmom / CC BY 2.0.

When Jen Mueller isn't chasing after her toddler daughter, she's an environmental communications professional in Washington DC. Jen blogs her observations on being engaged and staying present at Puddle Jumping in DC.

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