Go Tell It on the Mountain

Canadian outdoor-goods retailer won't sell plastic water bottles

Posted at 9:59 AM on 10 Dec 2007

Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada's largest outdoor-goods retailer, has yanked Nalgene bottles and other polycarbonate plastic containers from its shelves, concerned about toxic bisphenol A leaching from the plastic. MEC -- the Canadian equivalent of U.S.-based retailer REI -- has been one of Canada's largest sellers of the bottles. Canada's health agency is currently studying the risk posed by bisphenol A, and will comment on its research in May 2008; dependent on the outcome of that review, MEC may reinstate polycarbonate plastic Nalgenes to its stores.

sources:  The Globe and Mail, The Ottawa Citizen, The New York Times
see also, in Gristmill:  My toxic water bottles
see also, in Grist:  Umbra advises on water bottles