As any parent knows, babies spend a lot of time drinking from bottles and sippy cups and eating purée spooned from baby food jars. What is less known is the fact that those bottles and cups, and even the baby food jars and formula, commonly contain the harmful chemical bisphenol A (BPA); but that may soon change. Last week, after several previous attempts, the Assembly finally passed the Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act which would ban BPA in these children’s products.

The Act, Senate Bill 797 by Fran Pavley which is sponsored by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), would also require manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing BPA. Studies have shown that exposure to BPA, an endocrine disruptor, may lead to a host of problems, including impaired brain development, breast and prostate cancers and early puberty. Many U.S. companies have phased out BPA from their products, and major retailers have removed BPA-containing products from their store shelves. SB 797 will add another layer of protection by prohibiting the manufacture of baby feeding products at a BPA level above 0.1 parts per billion (ppb).

Before heading to the Governor’s desk, SB 797 has to pass the California Senate one more time.