Athleta disputes watchdog’s warning of BPA levels in athleticwear
May 18, 2023
The Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, said it had sent legal notices to Adidas, Athleta, Champion, Fabletics, Kohl’s, Nike, Patagonia and Sweaty Betty about specific pieces of clothing that its tests showed containing high levels of BPA, a chemical with harmful health effects for humans. “We believe the CEH claims have no merit and stand by our products and practices,” said an Athleta spokesperson.
The testing by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) revealed that the leggings, shorts, sports bras, and athletic shirts could expose wearers to up to 40 times the safe limit of BPA set by California’s strict health laws.
Although most BPA exposure has been studied in the context of ingestion, skin absorption is a concern as well. Researchers have found that BPA can be absorbed through the skin and can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, behavioral issues, and cancer. The American Chemistry Council maintains that BPA is safe at the low levels to which consumers are exposed.
The CEH had previously warned consumers about BPA in sports bras and athletic shirts from several brands, including Athleta, PINK, Asics, The North Face, Brooks, All in Motion, Nike, and FILA. The CEH initiated lawsuits against these companies after sending them legal notices to remedy the violations.
The watchdog group advises brands to reformulate their products to remove all bisphenols, including BPA. In the meantime, they recommend limiting the time spent in activewear by changing after workouts.
The CEH has been urging more than 90 companies, including Walgreens and Hypnotic Hats, to remove bisphenols, including BPA, from their products. Some companies have already agreed to do so. While the CEH litigates under California’s regulations, they state that their settlements have broader implications for consumers nationwide.
Recent News
Massive Data Breach Hits Ticketmaster, Affecting 560 Million Customers
Ticketmaster has fallen victim to a significant cyber-attack, potentially compromising the data of up to 560 million customers. The breach was confirmed by Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which revealed that a notorious hacking group, ShinyHunters, is behind the attack. The hackers are demanding a ransom of approximately £400,000 to prevent the data from being sold on the dark web.
Toyota Recalls 100,000+ Tundra and Lexus LX SUVs Over Engine Debris Issue
Toyota has announced a recall for over 100,000 Tundra pickups and Lexus LX SUVs in North America due to potential engine issues caused by machining debris. This recall affects certain 2022-2023 models of the Tundra and LX, which are equipped with the new V6 twin-turbo engine. The V6 twin-turbo engine has faced considerable scrutiny regarding its reliability, especially when compared to the previous naturally aspirated V8 engines.
Wordle and Worldle Battle Over Names
A legal dispute has erupted between the wildly popular word game Wordle and the lesser-known geography game Worldle, centering on the similarity of their names. Wordle, which was developed by Josh Wardle in 2021 and later acquired by the New York Times in 2022 for a substantial sum, has gained immense popularity. In this game, players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word.
FDA Issues Recall for Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert regarding Crecelac Goat Milk Infant Formula and other infant formula products imported and distributed by Dairy Manufacturers Inc. The alert highlights Cronobacter contamination concerns with Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula. Although Dairy Manufacturers Inc. initiated a recall on May 24, 2024, due to non-compliance with FDA regulations, new findings of Cronobacter contamination have prompted further action.