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The chemical everyone loves to hate, bisphenol A (BPA), was back in the news last week. As the evidence piles up that BPA is a health threat, associated with cancer, reproductive and nervous system disorders, and even depression in young girls, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it had banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups.
This is hardly groundbreaking. It’s sort of like the music industry announcing it will no longer release albums on cassette tapes. Yeah, no kidding.
The announcement wasn’t urgent because the market is dominated by BPA-free baby bottles and sippy cups thanks to massive consumer pressure and action by state legislatures that banned BPA in baby bottles years ago. Discount stores, which still had bottles and sippy cups made with BPA on its shelves will no longer be permitted to stock them. (However, it’s important to note that BPA alternatives may not be any less toxic).
What is most fascinating is that the FDA’s announcement was made at the urging of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), which represents chemical makers. According to National Public Radio the ACC asked the FDA for the ban to reassure customers who were confused about whether BPA was in baby bottles and sippy cups. The confusion “ had become an unnecessary distraction to consumers, legislators and state regulators," said spokesman Steven Hentges. "FDA action on this request now provides certainty."
I don’t find it at all reassuring that the FDA managed to act relatively quickly on what is essentially a marketing request by the ACC to calm down customers. Sarah Janssen, a senior scientist at NRDC, criticized the FDA for dodging the question of BPA’s safety. "This is only a baby step in the fight to eradicate BPA. To truly protect the public, FDA needs to ban BPA from all food packaging," said Janssen. "This half-hearted action—taken only after consumers shifted away from BPA in children's products—is inadequate. FDA continues to dodge the bigger questions of BPA's safety."
The FDA rejected NRDC’s petition to ban BPA in all food packaging. Yet, the agency agreed with the ACC’s petition for action based on a narrow provision that allows an item to be banned once there’s proof that the use has been discarded by manufacturers, according to The Washington Post.
Using the same provision invoked by the ACC, Massachusetts Representative Edward Markey petitioned the FDA to ban the use of BPA in infant formula containers, a practice that has largely been abandoned. Let’s see whether the FDA will act affirmatively on Representative Markey’s petition with the same speed as they did with ACC’s petition.
Meanwhile, another important scientific journal published a study that gives pause to the continued widespread use of BPA. A new study in Pediatrics is the latest to reveal troubling effects from ingesting BPA, this time from dental fillings, which was linked to cranky, anti-social behavior in children. Scientists found that kids who had the highest exposure to BPA composite dental fillings were more moody and had more behavioral issues than kids who had a different type of filling.
It’s good news that the FDA banned BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. But let’s not stop there. It’s time to do more to protect our kids from BPA, which is found everywhere, from canned foods and beverages to receipts and dental sealants.
Tips to Avoid BPA
- 1. Skip the can. Food cans are lined with BPA (or sometimes with its chemical cousin BPS). Eat fresh or frozen vegetables and beans or be sure to buy BPA-free cans, like Eden Organics, which is using a non-toxic alternative in its cans.
- 2. One more reason to cut soda from your diet. Soda, beer and water served in cans have been exposed to BPA, as it is used to line aluminum cans. Choose glass instead.
- 3. No receipt, thank you. Receipts are coated with BPA, which is also found on money. Don’t take receipts unless you absolutely need them and wash your hands frequently.
- 4. Keep your teeth BPA free! Be sure to ask your dentist for to use only BPA-free fillings and sealants on your kids’ teeth.
Photo courtesy thesoftlanding / CC BY 2.0
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/checblog/~3/KO2AC_Z0t9Y/
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