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Loading...FDA Won’t Ban BPA In Food
The Food and Drug Administration has responded to a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council to ban BPA in all food packaging. The FDA’s verdict? There isn’t enough research out there to conclusively prove that BPA is unsafe in food. The agency says they’ll continue to research the issue.
BPA is a chemical found in the packaging for many products, and has already been banned in children’s products (such as baby bottles) in Canada, the European Union, China, Malaysia, South Africa, and Argentina. Eleven US states have enacted similar legislation. Australia and Japan have banned it outright.
The FDA’s decision comes despite thousands of studies demonstrating that exposure to BPA, even in minute amounts, can cause all sort of health problems. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor that’s been implicated in the development of breast and prostate cancers, reproductive abnormalities, obesity, and insulin resistance. The Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and many other medical organizations in the US have advised that it poses a potential health threat.
The FDA has really dropped the ball here. Unfortunately, for the time being, US consumers concerned about exposure to BPA should continue buying products specifically advertised as BPA-free, and follow these simple guidelines offered by NRDC:
- Don’t use polycarbonate plastics (marked with a #7 PC) for storing food or beverages, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or the food or drink is for an infant or young child.
- Avoid canned beverages, foods and soups, especially if pregnant or feeding young children. Choose frozen vegetables and soups and broth that come in glass jars or in aseptic “brick” cartons, as these containers are BPA-free.
- Use a BPA-free reusable water bottle, such as an unlined stainless steel bottle.
- Don’t allow your dentist to apply dental sealants made from BPA (or BADGE) to either yours or your child’s teeth. Ask your dentist to provide BPA-free treatments.
Related Stories:
Maine Governor Says It’s OK If BPA Makes Women Grow Beards
New Study Looks at Effects of Chronic and Continuous BPA Exposure
Canada Health: BPA’s a Toxin But It’s Still Okay In Our Food
Read more: ban bpa, BPA, fda, food and drug administration
Photo credit: Steven Depolo
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141 comments
+ add your ownThank you for sharing.
NOT ONE MENTION IN THE COMMENTS .........IT'S THE BEES LOSS THAT WILL KILL US ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Money is money, profit is profit and health care in the U.S. is also money and profit...nothing new here. Sad but true!
what a clever unique race ...inventing more things that can kill us slowly , screw with our hormones and send us crazy - let alone flood the planet with non degradable garbage ...
Reggie T. wrote: "THESE 3 AGENCIES FDA,EPA & USDA DO NOT LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,THEY ARE THE MAIN REASON WHY CHEMICAL COMPANIES STAY IN BUSINESS."
Reggie's comment isn't the first I've seen in Care 2 unfairly
lumping EPA with USDA and FDA. Shouting it in all caps
doesn't make it any more true. In over 20 years as an environmental
lawyer (one who never represents polluters, developers or extractive
industries), I have a fair amount of respect for EPA. One must
remember, however, that all agencies are subject to pressures from
political superiors, statutory limitations on their authority by
Congress, and - a major GOP threat to EPA these days - politically
motivated cuts in their budgets. Taking all those constraints into
account, EPA has been one of the most scientifically grounded and
professional of all the Federal environmental agencies. The FDA,
in contrast, is a classic example of an agency dominated by the
industries it is supposed to regulate. USDA is not much better.
THESE 3 AGENCIES FDA,EPA & USDA DO NOT LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,THEY ARE THE MAIN REASON WHY CHEMICAL COMPANIES STAY IN BUSINESS.The American People my try to invest in Biodegradable products & BPA-FREE water bottles.In order to put CHEMICAL COMPANIES out of business,we must avoid buying products laced with the FDA's precious poison.
never trust the FDA
Money will always win, so careful where you spend it.
check out my
Food for Thought---and Action
www.brook.com/food
And yet another stab at population control!
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