Ultimate Direction Continues to Offer BPA-Free Hydration and Nutrition Systems

Polycarbonate, the material that has been used by many manufacturers for years to make water bottles, contains a manmade chemical called bisphenol A (BPA), which was originally designed by the pharmaceutical industry. It was recently discovered that BPA leaches from the plastic at levels dramatically higher than previously thought, according to Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement.

Ultimate Direction bottles and gel flasks have always been made with FDA approved Polyethylene, a BPA-free plastic that is soft and squeezable, odorless and tasteless. Likewise, Ultimate Direction's hydration reservoirs are made with FDA approved polyurethane, also a BPA-free material.

BPA in humans is associated with higher levels of testosterone in men and women and has been linked to breast and prostrate cancer, brain damage, and disruptions of the endocrine system. Canada intends to ban the import, sale, and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA because "the margin of safety" was considered too low for formula-fed infants.

Many retailers, including Mountain Equipment co-op in Canada and REI in the U.S. have begun removing BPA water bottles from shelves. Likewise, many consumers are demanding BPA-free alternatives. Ultimate Direction has always been BPA-free and will continue to be.