NEW - See Rubbermaid’s comment’s regarding recent announcements by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on BPA. Click Here.

Moms and families have depended on Rubbermaid storage containers for decades to help keep foods safe and fresh, earning Rubbermaid a reputation as one of the world’s most trusted brands. Concerns have been raised recently about potential health effects of Bisphenol A (“BPA”), a chemical commonly used to improve the performance of some plastics. Rubbermaid uses plastics that contain BPA in a small number of food storage containers and water bottles to improve resistance to stains and odors.

BPA has been used safely in the manufacture of thousands of products for years and its use fully complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other historically stringent public health regulators in the European Union and Japan.

Even though only a fraction of Rubbermaid-branded food storage containers and water bottles contain BPA, we believe strongly in helping consumers make informed choices. It’s all part of Rubbermaid’s focus on listening to, and responding to, our valued customers.

• Rubbermaid food storage & beverage products that contain BPA
• Rubbermaid food storage & beverage products that DO NOT contain BPA
  

Recent news coverage has suggested that plastic containers and bottles labeled with the number “7” material identification code on the bottom contain BPA.  While all polycarbonate plastics containing BPA are labeled with the number “7” identification code, not all plastics labeled with the number “7” contain BPA.  The number “7” code is assigned to the “Other” category, which includes all plastics not otherwise assigned to categories #1-6.   The majority of Rubbermaid food and beverage containers are assigned to category number “5”, although some non-BPA containing products are assigned to category”7” due to their unique combination of plastic types.

• Frequently Asked Questions about BPA - click here to read

Consumer health and safety are Rubbermaid’s paramount concern, so we have compiled the following information to better inform our consumers about Bisphenol A (BPA).

Q: What is Rubbermaid’s response to reports by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that high levels of Bisphenol A (“BIS–fen–all A”) can increase the odds of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities?
A: We are aware of these recent reports and take the findings very seriously. Use of plastics made with BPA fully complies with standards from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as the historically stringent regulators of public health issues in the European Union. We will continue to closely monitor this and other issues related to BPA.

Q: What is BPA?
A: Bisphenol A (“BIS–fen–all A”) is a chemical used by hundreds of manufacturers as a building block of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins for food surface applications.

Q: Is BPA dangerous?
A: We are aware that there have been some concerns raised recently about possible health effects, but BPA has been used safely in the manufacture of hundreds of products for decades. Use of plastics made with BPA fully complies with standards from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as the historically stringent regulators of public health issues in the European Union. There have been no reports of illness connected to BPA.

Q: Is it in Rubbermaid products?
A: Only a few.  Consumer demand for food storage containers that better resist stains and odors led to the inclusion of plastics that contain BPA in “Premier,” a new and popular line of products. Only a small fraction of Rubbermaid-branded food storage containers and water bottles are made with plastics that contain BPA.

Q: Why does Rubbermaid use it?
A: Consumer demand for food storage containers that better resist stains and odors led to the inclusion of plastics that contain BPA in “Premier,” a new and popular line of products. We use plastics made with BPA to achieve these performance enhancements because it has been used safely in the manufacture of  hundreds of products for years.

Q: Which products are made from plastics that contain BPA?
A: Because we believe strongly in helping consumers make informed choices, we clearly distinguish which products include BPA and we offer dozens of BPA-free food storage products with similar functionality.

Q: Where else can consumers find reliable information on BPA?
A: Consumers can visit the following web sites for more information:

• European Food Safety Authority study - www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press_room/press_release/pr_bpa.html
• American Chemistry Council - www.bisphenol-a.org
• Environmental Protection Agency - www.epa.gov/endocrine/about.html
• American Council on Science and Health - www.acsh.org/search/home_result.asp

Q: Which government and regulatory agencies have reviewed polycarbonate?
A: Many government and regulatory agencies, including those listed below, have conducted comprehensive testing and review of polycarbonate (which contains BPA) and determined that it poses no health risk to humans.

• The Environmental Protection Agency (USA)
• The Food and Drug Administration (USA)
• The European Commission Scientific Committee on Food
• The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
• Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

Q: Health Canada has moved to ban the sale of baby bottles containing BPA in Canada. What is Rubbermaid’s stance on Health Canada’s decision?
A: Rubbermaid does not make or sell baby bottles, but there are some Rubbermaid food and beverage containers that are made from polycarbonate which do contain Bisphenol-A (BPA). The Canadian government has not questioned the safety of BPA in plastic food and beverage containers. Consumer health and safety is of paramount concern at Rubbermaid, so we will continue to monitor Health Canada’s guidance regarding BPA.