An investigation by the Independent newspaper has revealed that Boots and Mothercare are still selling baby bottles which are made with the chemical BPA, or Bisphenol A.
There are fears that the chemical may cause breast cancer, heart disease, obesity, hyperactivity and other disorders.
Many manufacturers have stopped using it while Canada and three US states have banned BPA in baby bottles.
But the Independent has found that Boots and Mothercare are selling off old stock containing BPA, which is a hormonal substance added to plastics to make them tougher.
Boots is also selling BPA bottles branded with Disney characters which are made by Tommee Tippee, which has now removed BPA from its own bottles.
Boots, Mothercare and Disney told the Independent that BPA bottles are safe, although they have ordered it to be removed from new bottles.
Mothercare told the newspaper: "Mothercare takes the issue of product quality and safety extremely seriously and all our bottles and feeding equipment comply with strict European standards."
It said it offers "reassurance and advice" to customers through its website and leaflets.
However the company admitted it had planned to stop selling BPA bottles by January 2010 and now the target was the "end of the autumn".
Boots told the Independent: "With the exception of Canada, polycarbonate, which is made from bisphenol A, is approved as a food-contact material worldwide. The vast amount of scientific evidence still supports its continued safe use."
A Disney spokeswoman told the newspaper: "As far as Europe is concerned they have said that amount of BPA does not pose a threat to human health. They consider the use of BPA to be safe. However we have decided to move to totally BPA-free with a final target of 2010. A number of our products in Europe are already BPA-free."
She said any Disney-branded Tommee Tippee products in the market were old stock and would be phased out.
However, Clare Dimmer, chair of trustees at Breast Cancer UK, told the Independent: "It's amazingly cynical that, despite the serious health concerns surrounding infant BPA exposure, retailers and manufacturers still find it perfectly acceptable to continue to sell BPA stock here despite similar products already being withdrawn from sale in the US and Canada.
"I think parents will be irate about these double standards and disappointed that retailers are not taking on board the full advice from scientists."
It does seem like we're still a long way behind in removing this potentially dangerous chemical.
For more information about BPA-free products, check out this article by Gia Milinovich.
Source: The Independent