SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The California Senate has defeated a bill that sought to ban the chemical bisphenol A from plastic baby bottles, sippy cups and baby formula containers.
The bill that failed Tuesday would have limited the chemical to trace amounts in food and drink containers intended for use by children age 3 or younger.
Democratic Sen. Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills says scientific studies show the chemical commonly known as BPA can harm the development of young children.
Her bill, SB797, sought to ban the chemical from baby bottles or sippy cups by Jan. 1, 2012. The ban would have extended to containers of infant formula by July 1, 2012.
Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington have restricted its use. The chemical has been commonly used to line food cans and make plastics shatterproof.
