Wal-Mart Canada Joins List of Retailers Taking Action on Bisphenol A

    Environmental Defence applauds retailers removing harmful chemical from
    shelves

    TORONTO, April 16 /CNW/ - Environmental Defence today applauded Wal-Mart
Canada, Canadian Tire, The Forzani Group Ltd., and Hudson's Bay Company for
choosing to stop selling products, such as plastic baby bottles and reusable
water bottles, that contain the harmful chemical bisphenol A.
    "This move will help consumers make the right choice when they shop for
their families," said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director, Environmental
Defence. "We congratulate Wal-Mart Canada, Canadian Tire, the Forzani Group
and Hudson's Bay for taking the health of Canadians seriously and showing
leadership as responsible Canadian companies."
    Wal-Mart Canada has announced that they will immediately stop the sale of
select baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, food containers and water bottles
containing bisphenol A. Stores will remove products from their shelves, and a
do-not-sell order will restrict cash registers nationwide from transactions of
these products. The company has worked in recent months to provide its
customers with a wider range of bisphenol A-free choices.
    The Forzani Group Ltd. announced it is immediately removing all bisphenol
A water bottles and replacing them with bisphenol A-free alternatives. The
Forzani decision affects stores like Sport Chek, Coast Mountain Sports, Sport
Mart, Athletes World, and others.
    Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited said plastic water bottles and food
storage containers that are known to contain bisphenol A will be removed from
store shelves at all Canadian Tire, Mark's Work Wearhouse and PartSource
stores.
    The Hudson's Bay Company has also confirmed it is immediately removing
all baby products that contain bisphenol A.
    Bisphenol A is used in hard, clear plastic reusable drinking bottles,
baby bottles, and the lining of some food cans. International organizations,
scientific panels and some 150 peer-reviewed studies have pointed to the
potential health effects of exposure to bisphenol A. The U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention detected bisphenol A in 93% of Americans tested
in 2007 and a report released this week by the U.S. National Toxicology
Program raised more concern regarding current exposure levels and links to
breast and prostate cancer, and other health effects.
    The government of Canada is currently reviewing the safety of bisphenol A
as part of the Chemicals Management Plan. While the government's assessment
and conclusions have not yet been made public, the retailers are erring on the
side of caution in the interests of public health and environmental safety.
    "We are seeing a tide of change," said Smith. "When only a year ago
bisphenol A was a nameless toxin found in consumer products, today it is
finally getting the attention it deserves as a dangerous chemical."
    As part of its national Toxic Nation campaign, Environmental Defence has
tested Canadians and politicians for toxic chemicals in their bodies. Everyone
tested for bisphenol A had measurable levels in their blood. Full test results
are available online at www.toxicnation.ca.

    About Environmental Defence (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental
Defence protects the environment and human health. We research solutions. We
educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure clean air,
clean water and thriving ecosystems nationwide, and to bring a halt to
Canada's contribution to climate change.

For further information: or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, (416) 323-9521 ext. 232, (647)
280-9521 (cell)