Green to Grow calls for support of the California Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act

Green to Grow (www.greentogrow.com), a leading Los Angeles-based manufacturer of BPA-free baby bottles that provide a safe alternative to polycarbonate products containing Bisphenol A (BPA) - a chemical currently banned in Canada, Minnesota, Connecticut and under scrutiny in several European nations - is urging the public and California Assembly members to support the Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act (SB 797). Introduced by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica), the bill was passed by the California State Senate on June 2, 2009 despite aggressive lobbying by industry groups and will go before the Assembly on September 8 for a final vote.

In support of this landmark legislation, Green to Grow has donated 1,000 baby bottles and 3,000 nipples to the St. John's Well Child & Family Center in Los Angeles, which serves as a primary source of health care for more than 100,000 underserved and low-income residents. Launched in 2007 with a strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility, Green to Grow produces baby bottles from PES plastic, which is free of BPA, phthalates, lead, and PVC, and also manufactures and distributes gift sets, silicone nipples, and a line of organic cotton totes and accessories.

Green to Grow co-founders, husband and wife Michael Ritterbrown and Shelley Aronoff, announced the company will continue to donate baby bottles to charitable organizations that serve families in need and support their efforts to educate families about safer alternatives to polycarbonate plastics.

"Whether we like it or not, the BPA controversy has become a matter of economic and social justice," said Green to Grow Vice President Shelley Aronoff. "Many national retailers such as Babies 'R' Us, Walmart, Target, Safeway, and Whole Foods have already stopped selling products containing this proven neural, developmental, and reproductive toxicant. Sadly, unless legislation banning BPA is passed, many families who lack access to these specific retailers will continue to unknowingly purchase polycarbonate baby bottles, sippy cups, and other products sold at discounters and local merchants that continue to sell products that contain BPA.

A synthetic estrogen that can disrupt the human body's own hormones, BPA has been linked to a variety of serious health problems by over 220 scientific studies and is thought to be particularly harmful to babies and young children. In the face of mounting scientific evidence that even extremely low levels of BPA can impact health, state legislatures across the country have acted to ban BPA from plastic baby bottles and sippy cups, as well as in the lining of infant formula cans. Congress is also considering federal regulation, and 22 states and municipalities are currently reviewing legislation to regulate the chemical.

"A large percentage of exposure to BPA appears to be the result of leaching from baby bottles and food and beverage containers, hence the importance of protecting children from this toxin while their bodies are still developing," Mr. Ritterbrown commented. "Numerous scientific studies have shown that because BPA acts like an estrogen when ingested, it's literally like giving babies daily low-level doses of birth control pills. A wealth of scientific data shows that this kind of hormone disruption can cause diabetes, breast cancer, ADHD, early onset puberty, obesity, impaired brain development and immune function disorders, among others."

Mr. Ritterbrown added that Green to Grow's donation to the St. John's Well Child & Family Center is part of its ongoing educational outreach philosophy to give back to communities in need.

"We believe in the power of knowledge and direct action. We cannot wait for change to happen. We have to do what we can now to protect families and the earth," Ritterbrown emphasized.

As many lawmakers have not yet committed to supporting SB 797 on the Assembly Floor, bill sponsor Senator Pavley is urging the public to contact their Assembly member NOW and urge them to vote in favor of protecting Californian children from harm by supporting SB 797 on the Assembly Floor.

"California has always been a leader on environmental and health issues, but we are already behind other states and countries that have banned BPA from children's products," said Senator Pavley. "Let's get this dangerous chemical out of our children's food and drink."