Can BPA leach from baby bottles into milk and formula?

What's actually in it

Many plastic baby bottles are made from polycarbonate or other plastics that can contain bisphenol A (BPA). Even bottles labeled "BPA-free" may contain related chemicals like BPS or BPF that behave similarly in the body. Packaged milk sold in plastic containers can also pick up BPA from the packaging during storage and transport.

BPA is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen. Infants are especially vulnerable because their detox systems aren't fully developed yet, and they consume large amounts of milk relative to their body weight.

What the research says

A 2025 study in Food Chem X tested BPA levels in several types of packaged milk and in plastic baby bottles. The researchers extracted and measured BPA concentrations and then calculated health risk based on how much a baby would typically drink per day.

They found detectable BPA in both baby bottles and packaged milk. The concentrations varied by brand and packaging type, but some exceeded the tolerable daily intake for infants. Heating the bottles, which parents often do to warm milk or formula, increased the amount of BPA that leached out.

The health risk assessment showed that for the worst-case bottles, an infant drinking the recommended daily amount of milk could be exposed to BPA levels above safety thresholds set by food safety authorities. Bottles stored at higher temperatures or used repeatedly showed more leaching.

Glass bottles or high-quality BPA-free bottles (look for ones made from polypropylene or silicone) are safer choices. Avoid heating plastic bottles in the microwave, and replace any bottles that are scratched or cloudy.