MEC silently removes polycarbonate bottles

December 07, 2007 (Updated: 12 Dec 2007 18:00:00 )

Ryan sends me this Globe and Mail article noting that MEC [Ranting at MEC] has silently pulled all their polycarbonate Nalgene bottles (the coloured or clear ones, NOT the filmy white LDPE bottles like the ones I have) off of shelves.

Globe

The plastic in question is made mostly from bisphenol A, which mimics estrogen and is derived from petrochemicals.

It has been linked in dozens of independent research studies to illnesses that could be caused by hormone disruption. However, manufacturers of bisphenol A say their research shows the material to be harmless.

From: Mike Warren -
To: info@mec.ca
Subject: Lexan/polycarbonate bottles
Hello, I recently read at the Globe and Mail's Web site this article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071207.wcoop07/BNStory/National/home It says that MEC is (*finally*, IMO) pulling Lexan/polycarbonate water-bottles from its shelves until the federal government has completed its health survey on the issue. I have a couple questions: 1. There's no notice on your Web site about this; will there be? Is there a notice in stores (I haven't been to my local Calgary one recently)? 2. Do you plan on pulling other Bisphenol-A contaminated food products from your shelves? For example, I understand it is used as a "food safe" lining in many packaging systems (not sure if this affects any of your products, e.g. freeze-dried food, maybe)? Let me also say that I'm very glad to see MEC is doing this. Cheers, -- mike warren

Update on December 12

From: MEC Service Centre.
To: Mike Warren -
Subject: Re: Lexan/polycarbonate bottles
I just want to acknowledge that we have received your email and to let you know that our Product Manager for the food category is conducting research into the other food packaging used for the products we sell. We will get back to you once we have some results from this research. We will be posting some information on our web site tomorrow regarding our decision to discontinue the sale of polycarbonate containers, pending the Health Canada ruling next year. Thank you for writing. Regards, Harry