Bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) is a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), and its exposure has been linked to impacts across multiple organs, even at low doses (FPF reported). With the growing awareness of the health concerns of BPA, it has been replaced with other structurally similar bisphenols, which are oftentimes of similar toxicological concern (FPF reported, here, and here). These alternatives are present in many food contact products, representing a potential health concern.
Camille Rime from TIBIO Suisse Romande, Lausanne, Switzerland, and colleagues found that children’s products, including items in contact with food, available on the Swiss market, commonly release bisphenols under normal use conditions. In their article, published on November 15, 2025, in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere, the authors describe that their study assessed 162 products falling under four categories: toys, bath toys and accessories, oral supports, and feeding accessories and baby bottles.
Bisphenol migration rates were higher from oral supports, and feeding accessories and baby bottles – which are in direct oral (and food) contact. Feeding accessories and baby bottles released an average of 219.24 µg bisphenols/kg of sample. Overall, bisphenol B (BPB, CAS 77-40-7) and BPA were most frequently detected with prevalence in 57% and 44% of samples, respectively. Three additional bisphenols were found in approximately 25% of the samples, while the other 14 tested had detection frequencies between 5 and 20%. “Feeding accessories and baby bottles displayed a greater diversity of bisphenol analogues, suggesting possible additive or synergistic effects,” the authors reported.
Based on margin of exposure (MOE) calculations, oral supports, which include teats and pacifiers, are of potential health concern due to their bisphenol E (BPE, CAS 2081-08-5) release. Estimated daily BPA intake from oral supports alone exceeded the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) current safety threshold of 0.2 ng/kg body weight/day (FPF reported). From mid-2026 on, the use of certain bisphenols and their derivatives are banned in food contact materials in the EU (FPF reported). In June 2025, Switzerland aligned more closely with European standards and will phase out hazardous bisphenols and their derivatives in coatings and varnishes used on food contact materials between July 2026 and January 2029 (FPF reported).
Rime and co-authors conclude that their “findings underscore the urgent need for stricter regulatory oversight, particularly for bisphenol A analogues in products frequently mouthed by infants and toddlers.”
The researchers selected 162 products randomly from major supermarket chains in Switzerland, including 16 feeding accessories and baby bottles in food contact. To simulate oral exposure, they performed migration experiments with artificial saliva for 30 min at 37 °C and an agitation of 140 rpm. Concentrations of 14 bisphenols, which fall within the 30 bisphenols of concern identified by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on the migration data and published exposure parameters, the scientists estimated children’s daily exposure to these bisphenols with a deterministic model. Using the daily exposure dose and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL), they then calculated the MOE for one-year-old children. An MOE >100 indicates low risk. In addition, the authors calculated the total daily intake based on urinary BPA concentrations from biomonitoring studies.
Reference
Rime, C. et al. (2025). “Assessing bisphenols migration from children’s products on the Swiss market: simulated oral exposure and risk implications.” Chemosphere. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144772
