March 20, 2008 - Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a manmade chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, the material used to make most baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic food containers. The chemical, known as BPA, also has been used to make polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, the most common type, for about 30 years. The plastics industry and the Food and Drug Administration say the safety of BPA is well established.