Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Oh, 07 - Licence to...?

We have mentioned bisphenol-A containing plastics here before.

I think that, no matter what, any food or beverage container with it in will soon no longer be on the shelves.

Not so much because of the potential hazards (which remain woefully varied... and disputed), but because of the way the issue has been handled by the government/media cabal of trust that exists these days.

At least in this case it is a 'better safe than sorry' default, so perhaps it could be worse. Unless, of course, you make the things. On the strength of what I saw today, if I had an Avent bottle crammed in junior's gob right now I would be one worried mummy and react accordingly. Who the heck would risk anything, especially with weasel disclaimers like 'so long as you boil water separately first/don't scratch the surface, it should be fine'.

Speaking of which, for recycling purposes (to what, I wonder?), it has an '07' inside the 3-arrow triangle. And, to know if it doesn't have BPA, you are helpfully advised that if it is flexible it won't. Which is about as loose as it gets, to the point of being useless.

Anyway, in the same slot there was the coincidental news that 'breast is best', so no agenda there. It's a shame that my trust factor is so low that beyond the news handling I also often have my doubts on the motivations of our sources of advice and information.

Addendum -

Just watched Dr. Rosemary on the BBC Brekky show, and she impresses more at each outing. To the rote-reading blonde and bouffant's scaremongering she was a breath of 'for heaven's sake' fresh air. Not that this slot will undo all the others that surrounds it. It suspect we are seeing the end of an industry here. I just wish it was for better reasons than this.

Addendum 2 -

Guardian - Science Weekly for May 5: "Ice, mud and blood" - If only for an insight into how the media 'do science... and a funny first comment in reply.

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