A parent's exchange with Sigg

Julie Silas an Oakland, California resident and parent of two daughters and director of Health Care Projects for the Healthy Building Network sent a series of emails to Sigg two years ago attempting to find out if the bottles contained BPA. Here is the exchange as she sent to me. I have made a call to Sigg for a response.

1. Von: Julie Silas [mailto:jlsilas@sbcglobal.net]
Gesendet: Samstag, 17. März 2007 18:59
An: Postmaster
Betreff: Sigg bottle liner
Wichtigkeit: Hoch

Please advise as soon as possible whether the SIGG bottle inner liner contains bisphenol A (BPA). Your website does not say BPA-free and although the liner polymer is proprietary, you really should disclose whether it contains BPA or not. My two young daughters and all their friends use them and I need to know if they contain BPA. If they do not, I will buy more and recommend all my friends do the same.

Please advise as quickly as possible!

Julie Silas

2. From: Postmaster
To: Julie Silas
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 5:05 AM
Subject: AW: Sigg bottle liner

pls see attachement. (This was a general form letter about Sigg bottles)

3. Von: Julie Silas [mailto:jlsilas@sbcglobal.net]
Gesendet: Montag, 19. März 2007 16:22
An: Postmaster
Betreff: Re: Sigg bottle liner

Thank you - I recognize from previous reports from your company that older SIGG bottles did have BPA in the liner and that you switched out two years ago - can you please send me serial numbers of the ones that are okay, as we have older bottles that I am concerned about.

Thank you - Julie Silas

4. From: Steve Wasik
To: jlsilas@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 11:25 AM
Subject: FW: Sigg bottle liner

Hello Ms Silas,

This message was forwarded on to me from our Customer Service in Switzerland.
SIGG has been around for 99 years and I’ve only been with them for a little over 1 year.
I am not aware of any major changes to our liner in the last 2 years as you mention – I’d be interested in seeing the reports you are referring to.

While the ingredients of the SIGG liner are proprietary, I can tell you that our bottles are tested frequently in Quality Control as well as in independent laboratories. In all the tests, SIGG bottles show no migration of chemicals, no trace of BPA. SIGGs are safe and I believe are the best reusable water bottles on the market.

The latest certification of the SIGG bottle and liner took place at the Nehring Institute in Germany.
See attached.

I hope this answers your concerns.
Best wishes,
Steve

5. To: Steve Wasik
Subject: Re: Sigg bottle liner

Thank you - my question was not about migration of BPA, the question was whether BPA is used in the liner. No one seems to respond to that - is there any information you can provide?

Thank you - Julie Silas

6. From: Steve Wasik
To: 'Julie Silas'
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: Sigg bottle liner

Ms Silas,

It’s a proprietary formula – I’ve been told best on earth – exclusively manufactured for SIGG bottles. It is a competitive advantage for SIGG and therefore the ingredients are kept confidential.

But isn’t the real issue to ensure that what you and your family are drinking is free of any chemicals. I know the issues surrounding polycarbonate #7 (Lexan) have to do with the problems these containers have with migration of the materials, chemicals. On the other hand, numerous research studies show SIGGs are leach-free.

I hope this answers your concerns.
Best,
Steve

7. From: Julie Silas
To: Steve Wasik
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 12:58 PM
Subject: Re: Sigg bottle liner

From my point of view, disclosing of whether the contents include BPA should not be proprietary - unless it's in the bottle liner. If it's not, why wouldn't you all tell customers? By saying it is free of BPA does not disclose what it does contain... if you don't have BPA, you should be announcing it to the world. Meanwhile, I am sure you are well aware that the issue is not just in polycarbonate bottles, but in the liners of canned food (and the liners of bottles).

I can only presume that SIGG bottles have BPA based on the fact that the company does not disclose that the product is BPA-free (you all rely on the fact that it does not leach, which isn't the question). The science on BPA is very strong re: animal studies. We are just learning about it - what we do know is that the effects might be transgenerational, which means that exposures now might affect grandchildren in future years. It is not worth the risk for me and my daughters. While you all might have tests showing that it does not leach, that does not make me feel comfortable purchasing SIGG that may contain BPA, but that you all refuse to disclose. We know it's bad if it leaches, that doesn't mean it is not bad if it stays in the liner.

I'm disappointed that you all would value proprietary concerns over children's health.

Julie Silas