Banned in the manufacture of plastic baby bottles since 2012 and identified as a substance of very high concern by the European Court of Justice in 2021, Bisphenol A continues to make headlines. Still all too present in our daily lives, BPA, as it's known, is a proven endocrine disruptor. In response to this problem, Élhée has long chosen medical-grade silicone to design its feeding bottles, teats and now its training cups. A healthy and safe material, free from all toxic substances and, in particular, endocrine disruptors.
CONTENTS :
- Endocrine disruptors: who are they and what are their effects?
- The importance of protecting babies
- Confidence and serenity: the raison d'être of Élhée
- The medical silicone feeding bottle, 100% clean and free of toxic substances
- Élhée: love and innovation
Endocrine disruptors: who are they and what are their effects?
According toANSES (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail), endocrine disruptors (EDs) meet the following definition: "substances that disrupt the hormonal functioning of living organisms, thereby causing adverse health effects in humans or other living beings in the environment".Alongside bisphenols, known for their presence in the plastic used to make baby bottles, there are phthalates and parabens, among others. Pesticides and preservatives are also included in the list of endocrine disruptors.
How do endocrine disruptors work?
Because endocrine disruptors are structurally similar to hormones, they are able to reproduce the behavior of real hormones, thus confusing the message. Scientists refer to this as the mimetic or agonist effect.EPs also act by binding to hormone receptors, preventing communication. This is known as a blocking or antagonistic effect.
More generally, endocrine disruptors disrupt the proper functioning of hormones in the body. They are capable of disrupting all endocrine functions, including growth, reproduction, sleep, mood and metabolism.
Understanding and assessing health risks
To better understand endocrine disruptors and the health risks they pose, the various studies carried out take several factors into account. -
Exposure risk: the level of evidence varies widely from one substance to another.
-
Exposure dose: some EPs (such as BPA and phthalate) show greater effects at low doses.
-
Window of exposure: the critical window of exposure to endocrine disruptors extends from the prenatal period, through infancy and adolescence.
-
Cocktail effect: the long-term effects of exposure to several chemical substances are still poorly understood.
- The latency period: the effects of endocrine disruptors may take one or more years to be expressed. Researchers also acknowledge the possibility oftransgenerational transmission.
Together, these factors create a complexity that makes the effects of endocrine disruptors difficult to assess and limiting their exposure, urgent.
Endocrine disruptors are everywhere
Bisphenol A is banned in baby-bottle plastics, yet it can be found in food-grade plastics and inside some food cans. To avoid them as much as possible, you can pay attention to :-
Plastics in food and inside certain cans, but also, among others, in the trays of frozen meals, which it's best to avoid using to reheat them,
-
certain toys containing phthalates used to make plastic more flexible,
-
shampoos and other cosmeticcreams, which may contain parabens,
-
sales slips, household cleaners...
In short, the main points of exposure to endocrine disruptors are water, food, industrial products and plant protection products. The key to all this? Focus as much as possible on natural, unprocessed products.
The importance of protecting babies
-
Pregnancy,
-
before age 3 for children,
-
at puberty.
After the birth, continue your efforts with the healthiest possible post-partum diet, especially if you're breast-feeding your baby. Beware, too, of textiles, too often treated to be waterproof, stain-resistant and flame-retardant. When it comes to toys and furniture, avoid plastic whenever possible in favor of natural materials such as wood. Finally, limit the number of toiletries you use, and choose organic or make-your-own products (the shorter the list of ingredients, the better).
For teenagers, the recommendations are similar: limit consumption of processed products (ready-made meals, industrial pastries, fast food, etc.), wash clothes before wearing them and pay attention to the use of cosmetics (shower gel, deodorant, hair styling products, make-up), many of which contain PEs.
From birth and even before, babies can be regularly exposed to endocrine disruptors of all kinds. All the more reason to adopt the best habits without delay, and opt for the healthiest brands.
Confidence and serenity: the Élhée raison d'être
In France, the law has prohibited Bisphenol A in baby food containers for over 10 years. Nevertheless, as we have seen, exposure factors remain numerous. At the same time, the European Commission is planning new measures to protect their health in the future.
From 2025, PVC, PFAS (food packaging) flame retardants, all bisphenols and all substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR), will be subject to new restrictions and bans. However, Élhée has not waited for these measures to be put in place before putting babies and their health at the heart of its concerns.
Right from the start, we opted for local, healthy and totally transparent production. As a result, we're proud to offer products designed and 100% manufactured in France, in compliance with the strictest health and sustainability standards, so that BibRonds and family memories can be passed on from one baby to the next. Because at Élhée, quality and safety go hand in hand.
The medical silicone feeding bottle, 100% clean and free of toxic substances
A non-allergenic neo-material perfectly suited to food contact, medical-grade silicone is free from chemical substances. That's why we've chosen to use it not only for our feeding bottles, but also for our physiological teats, suction nozzles and now for our Bubble training cup.
The result? A soft, high-quality silicone feeding bottle that can be used from birth, exclusively or in parallel with breastfeeding, with a 100% clean composition, free from toxic substances and endocrine disruptors, and also unbreakable, durable and reusable.
And, for even greater safety, Élhée innovates further with a closing ring that prevents any contact between the milk and any material other than medical silicone. As an added bonus, this 100% healthy material can also be heated in a bottle warmer and washed in a dishwasher, with no risk of deterioration or migration.
Elhée, love and innovation
A few years ago, Élhée was born from the needs and observations of a mother faced with a bottle industry that was still too conventional. Today, La parenthèse lactée is evolving to add a whole range ofbabycare products that are healthy for babies and safe for their parents, to its designer, sensory silicone feeding bottle.
BPA-free, BPS-free (its already controversial alternative), lead-free, PVC-free, nitrosamine-free and free from heavy metals, BibRond and the Bubble learning cup ensure simple, pure feeding for all babies.
What are the most important endocrine disruptors?
The list of major endocrine disruptors includes bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants, pesticides and preservatives.
Why choose a silicone baby bottle?
Silicone baby bottles have several advantages: they're soft, supple and perfectly unbreakable, but above all their 100% healthy material is totally free of chemicals such as endocrine disruptors.
What's the best pacifier for baby?
The best pacifier for baby is a physiologically designed, extra-soft silicone pacifier. Medical silicone is anti-allergenic and fully compatible with baby food. As for the physiological teat, by imitating the shape of the breast, it adapts to the shape of the baby's palate for enhanced sucking comfort.
