Do Berkey Light® systems contain BPA?

In the past, the systems Berkey Light ^® were made of food-grade polycarbonate approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Some research suggests that polycarbonates are known to leach BPA (bisphenol-A) when exposed to high-strength industrial-grade alkaline detergents or when repeatedly exposed to temperatures above 192 degrees Fahrenheit (over 88 degrees Celsius); neither occurs when using the Berkey Light system ^®  .

New studies regarding possible leaching of BPA are underway. A lot of misinformation has also been circulating on the airwaves and on the Internet. The FDA said in April 2008 that it was not recommending that anyone stop using products containing BPA while it continued its risk assessment process.

Even with such statements from the FDA, New Millennium Concepts determined that it was in the best interest of our customers to use an alternative to the polycarbonate previously used to produce the Berkey Light system ^® . Fortunately, in 2008, a new product was developed without  BPA . New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. has replaced the polycarbonate material with this new material to alleviate potential concerns for our customers. Not only is this copolyester very durable, but it is also scratch, stain, chip and odor resistant.

PLEASE NOTE:  Over the past year, there has been growing concern about containers containing recycling code #7. The recycling code found at the bottom of plastic containers is called  Resin identification codes.  Polycarbonate is simply a type of plastic that falls under code #7. Code #7 is a catch-all code that essentially means "Other" and most products that do not fit into categories #1 through #6 are placed in category #7. It also applies to products made from more than one type of plastic in categories 1 to 6. The new copolyester used by the system Berkey Light ^®  is also classified in category 7 well  that it is not a polycarbonate and that it does not contain BPA.