Microplastics Baby Bottles Lawsuit
Written by Irina Webb
As a parent or caregiver, you prioritize your child’s health and safety above all else. But what if the baby bottle you use to feed your infant leaches microplastics into their milk or formula? That troubling reality now sits at the center of the Microplastics Baby Bottles Lawsuit.
Microplastics now rank among the most pressing environmental and health threats of our time. They are present in the oceans, drinking water, food, and even human tissue. Plaintiffs have already filed class action lawsuits against companies that failed to disclose or mitigate the dangers of microplastic exposure (source). Now, legal action shines a spotlight on baby bottle makers. In this post, I’ll explain the details of the microplastics baby bottles lawsuit, break down what microplastics are, and share the best microplastic-free options to help you protect your baby from long-term health effects.
What Is The Microplastics Baby Bottles Lawsuit About?
In April 2024, the Clarkson Law Firm filed two class action lawsuits against Philips North America LLC and Handi-Craft Company, the maker of Dr. Brown’s Baby bottles. The lawsuits accuse both baby bottle makers of misleading consumers by promoting their bottles as “BPA-free” while failing to disclose that the polypropylene plastic they use can leach harmful microplastics when heated (source).
As I have discussed in my Are Plastic Water Bottles Safe blog post, BPAs are part of the bisphenol family, a concerning chemical group used to make many forms of plastic. The FDA banned the use of BPAs in 2012 because of the serious health risks associated with them (source). Understandably, parents purchasing baby bottles made from BPA-free plastic believed manufacturers chose to select a safe alternative.
In this class action, the law firm argues that these baby bottle makers knowingly used polypropylene, a material that sheds microplastics into warm liquids, and failed to warn parents about the risk.
The lawsuits demand that Philips North America LLC and Handi-Craft Company either change their labels to reflect these facts, reformulate their products, or discontinue these bottles altogether. The suits also seek restitution, punitive damages, and financial penalties on behalf of affected families.
What Are Microplastics?
To begin, microplastics are plastic particles smaller than five millimeters. They come from broken-down plastic items, manufacturing waste, or synthetic fabrics. Today, scientists have detected microplastics in bottled water, food, soil, rainwater, and even inside the human brain (source, source, and source).
When plastic breaks down or gets heated, it will release microplastics, or microscopic fragments. Researchers have linked microplastic exposure to a wide range of health effects, including:
- carcinogenesis (source)
- cytotoxicity (source)
- disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract (source)
- obesity (source)
- oxidative stress and inflammation (source)
- reproductive and developmental toxicity (source).
Unlike glass, plastic can degrade quickly when exposed to everyday wear and tear. That’s why even heat-resistant plastics, like polypropylene, still pose dangers when used for feeding babies. These health risks are especially concerning when it comes to feeding infants whose immune systems are still developing.
Are There Microplastics In Baby Bottles?
Yes, plastic baby bottles leach microplastics—especially those made of polypropylene. In fact, a 2020 study found that when researchers shook room temperature water inside polypropylene baby bottles, the bottles released microplastics at alarming rates. When they repeated the experiment using water heated to 158°F (the recommended temperature for mixing baby formula), the bottles released microplastics at a rate of up to 16 million particles per liter.
The study concluded that infants may ingest over 1 million microplastic particles per day when using polypropylene bottles. These results are consistent with the lawsuits claim: polypropylene bottles leach harmful microplastics, especially when parents heat them (source). In other words, the study demonstrated that plastics leach microplastics when heated.
Despite widespread evidence, the lawsuits allege that the companies failed to warn parents. They promoted their products using the “BPA-free” label—implying safety—without informing families that the bottles still contain other harmful plastic compounds. By doing so, these companies failed to disclose the danger that their bottles leach harmful microplastics into infants’ milk and formula, thus endangering their health.
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What Are The Best Baby Bottles Without Microplastics?
Not so surprisingly, in my opinion, the best material for infant bottles is also the safest material for kids and adults. To fully avoid microplastics, you should choose glass baby bottles.
Before you object, hear me out. This material does not break down under heat, does not absorb odors or stains, and offers the safest feeding experience for your baby. Glass baby bottles, especially those with silicone sleeves, offer surprising durability. Not to mention, the glass bottle itself can be reused by subsequent siblings, donated, or resold – they truly look crystal clear even years later.
In comparison, plastic bottles degrade quickly, scratching and clouding over time, which makes them harder to clean. These scratches provide places for bacteria to hide and multiply. In contrast, glass bottles resist scratching, remain clear, and sanitize easily.
Here are some excellent glass options:
- Hevea
- Natursutten
- Mason
- Lifefactory.
Let’s look into each of them a little more. (Also, check out my non-toxic product shop for organic baby formula.)
Hevea
• Material: The bottles are made from German borosilicate glass. The nipples and bottle sleeves are 100% natural rubber from Malaysia.
• Details: Hevea offers standard and wide neck baby bottles with slow and medium flow nipples. The wide neck bottles have natural rubber nipples that attach to the bottle without a plastic fastening ring and come with a natural rubber protective sleeve.
• Extra features: Hevea offers worldwide shipping from its website but is also available on Amazon. You can find the Amazon listings in my Amazon storefront.
Natursutten
• Material: Natursutten makes its borosilicate glass bottles in France. The nipples are made of natural rubber from Italy.
• Details: Like Hevea, Natursutten’s borosilicate glass bottles are thermal shock resistant and use what are, in my opinion, the safest materials for baby bottles and nipples. Natursutten offers standard neck bottles (small or large), and slow or fast nipple options. Available in my Amazon storefront.
• Extra Features: The Natursutten nipples have an anti-colic double-valve that helps to prevent gas and fussiness.
Mason
• Material: Mason offers a unique option to purchase either its Mason Bottle, or Mason DIY Kit (complete with silicone nipple, sleeve, and dust cap), to fit any standard mouth mason jar. Mason jars are made from soda lime glass and are well loved in many kitchens around the country. Both the jars and its silicone nipples are made in the USA.
• Details: Mason offers the versatility to use glass jars many people already have at home or purchase its ready-to-go Mason Bottle that includes the glass body. Find both the Mason DIY kit as well as the Mason Bottle in my Amazon storefront.
• Extra Features: Traditional Mason jars are often sold in sets for less than $1 per jar, making this option very affordable. Furthermore, Mason sells a variety of interchangeable lids to sippy and straw cups to grow with your child.
Lifefactory
• Material: The bottles are made from French borosilicate glass and come with protective silicone sleeves. The nipples are clear silicone and are also made in France.
• Details: Lifefactory uses borosilicate glass, known for resisting thermal shock, and all their bottles come with a protective sleeve. Lifefactory offers both standard (narrow) and wide-neck bottles with dust caps.
• Extra Features: The Lifefactory wide-neck bottles grow with your child by converting into sippy cups or straw cups. For your convenience, I have Lifefactory in my Amazon storefront.
These brands prioritize safety and durability. If you want to dig deeper into how these materials compare, check out this helpful post on Glass vs Plastic Baby Bottles.
If you’re updating your baby gear or making your registry, I encourage you to include glass options. To keep your whole family safe, you can also explore Non-Toxic Water Bottles that avoid similar plastic-related concerns.
Conclusion: What Is The Microplastics Baby Bottles Lawsuit About?
The Lawsuit Alleges That Plastic Baby Bottle Labels Should Reflect That Plastic Baby Bottles—Even Those Labeled “BPA-Free”—Shed Millions Of Microplastics, Posing Health Risks To Infants. Parents Can Opt For Glass Bottles For The Safest Feeding Option.
In my opinion, the microplastics baby bottles lawsuits are consistent with studies showing plastic risks that affect everyone including the youngest members of our families. These lawsuits accuse Philips North America LLC and Handi-Craft Company of failing to disclose serious health hazards behind comforting labels. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants marketed polypropylene bottles as “safe,” when in reality, these bottles released microplastics into infants’ milk and formula.
In my opinion, plastic baby bottles—even BPA-free ones—cannot match the safety of glass. I understand that under normal conditions, plastic baby bottles can leach over 1 million plastic particles per day. On the other hand, glass baby bottles do not shed microplastics into water.
Further, I believe glass baby bottles are more scratch-resistant, not prone to staining or clouding, and the glass portion can be reused for years. Unlike plastic, glass has proven over and over to be the safest food contact material. You can find safe glass baby bottles in my Amazon storefront.
Finally, remember to visit the I Read Labels For You blog for the latest research on living toxic-free. You will find more posts on Safe Baby Products and helpful product reviews. Browse my shop for organic baby formula and my Amazon shop for vetted non-toxic products. Importantly, take advantage of my Baby Wipes Rating List and Diaper Rating List e-books. And unlock premium offers, unique resources, and inspiring tips to support your wellness journey—just by getting my free emails!
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