FDA Under Fire for Loose BPA Restrictions
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in can linings and hard plastics. It’s been around for a while and is widely used. And chances are, you have it in your system as we speak. With such common usage of the chemical, what are people making such a fuss about?
As it turns out, the chemical has been linked to cancer, diabetes, developmental damage and heart disease in animals. It is also known for leaching from can and bottle linings into foods and drinks. With such widespread use, 90% of Americans tested by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had traces of BPA in their urine.
So we know that it is a harmful chemical. What does the FDA have to do with all of this? Well, the FDA has long claimed that its assessments show that the chemical is “safe.” This stance, along with recent events have investors applauding. Recently the FDA has decided to reassess BPA using independent, rather than industrial, science and data.
Yesterday a letter signed by 27 investors, investment advisory companies, foundations, and shareholder advocacy groups arrived in the office of FDA Commissioner, Margaret Hamburg. The letter urged the FDA to “ensure that sound independent, unbiased science is used to reach its final assessment” of the safety of BPA. Even the FDA’s own scientific sub-committee has chided the agency’s dependence upon industry data in its prior assessments of BPA.
Notes released from a recent “Joint BPA Trade Association” meeting clarify the concern over the FDA’s industry-data dependence. The notes show that the industry still desires to not only prevent, but to play a major role in the prevention of BPA regulation. Evident in the notes is the industry’s strategy to “protect industries that use BPA [and] prolong the life of BPA,” including the use of fear tactics and identifying a “holy grail” spokesperson-a pregnant woman-to defend BPA.
While the FDA has yet to declare BPA unsafe, states such as Connecticut and Minnesota have already banned the use of BPA in some products, and Chicago has recently banned child sippy cups and bottles that contain BPA.
The six largest baby bottle manufacturers have also acted on consumer concerns over BPA’s safety by committing to eliminate the chemical from products sold in the U.S. in March. Earlier this year a major U.S. chemical manufacturer announced a voluntary policy limiting BPA sales on products that would expose children under 3 to the chemical.
However, despite these glimmers of hope, “the lack of regulation by the federal government creates disincentives for companies to invest in the research, development, and deployment of alternatives,” stated the letter. And a recent report states that all companies in the packaged food and beverage industry use BPA and “are taking insufficient steps to move toward alternatives.” Heinz was the only company surveyed that used any BPA alternatives at all.
“It seems that every week brings news of yet another scientific research finding adding to the evidence that BPA is hazardous,” stated Richard Liroff, Executive Director of the Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN). “The FDA should act expeditiously to align its regulatory guidance with the burgeoning science; this will provide a strong signal to the marketplace to speed the transition to safer alternatives.”
Photo Credit: JPhilipson via flickr under Creative Commons License
I am sooo glad there have been changes with BPA by the FDA. It is like, FINALLY! It needs to be completely out of the market. No more cancer from plastic
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