Plastics with bisphenol A shelved

A string of major retailers pulled plastic products with bisphenol A off their shelves on Thursday, part of a purge at stores across the country in anticipation of a Health Canada warning that the chemical is dangerous.

Sears Canada, Rexall Pharmacies, London Drugs and Home Depot Canada were among the latest retailers to remove such products as plastic baby bottles and reusable water bottles made with bisphenol A, or BPA, from their stores.

The advocacy group Environmental Defence issued a press release congratulating those stores "for taking action to protect Canadians' health."

"The wave of change we've seen in the past few days is absolutely remarkable," said Dr. Rick Smith, the group's executive director.

The fallout began when the Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday that an imminent Health Canada announcement would classify BPA as a dangerous substance, a move the newspaper says would be a first for a regulatory body worldwide.

Officials wouldn't comment to the CBC on whether a statement about BPA was coming, but Health Canada and Environment Canada have scheduled a news conference for Friday to make an "important announcement."