Migration of Bisphenol A (BPA) from Epoxy Can Coatings to Jalapeno Peppers and an Acid Food Simulant

ACS Publications: "Effects of heat processing, storage time, and temperature on migration of bisphenol A (BPA) from an epoxy type can coating to an acid food simulant and jalapeno peppers were determined."

The highest level of BPA found in jalapeño peppers cans, surveyed from three supermarkets, was 5.59 ± 2.43 μg/kg. Migration of BPA, performed according to the European and Mercosur conditions, was 65.45 ± 5.29 μg/kg. All the migration values found in this study were below those legislation limits (3 mg/kg).

2002 Paper

BPA Danger may be greater from Tin Cans than Water Bottles

TreeHugger: "According to the FDA, 17% of the American diet comes out of cans, and many of those have an epoxy liner made with Bisphenol A, a chemical which can mimic human estrogen and which is linked to breast cancer and early puberty in women. 

While the leaching of BPA from Nalgene water bottles and other polycarbonate bottles is a concern, the danger from canned food may be greater. The Environmental Working Group tested canned food bought across America and found BPA in more than half of them, at levels they call '200 times the government's traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals.'"

Uk Environment Agency - Bisphenol A

Uk Environment Agency: "Bisphenol A is controlled via food contact legislation under the EU Directive 90/128/EEC relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. Bisphenol A is also being reviewed under the EU Regulation on Existing Substances (793/93/EEC) for which, in the UK, the Health and Safety Executive is currently carrying out a health risk assessment."

Determination of Bisphenol A Migrating from Epoxy Can Coatings to Infant Formula Liquid Concentrates

ACS Publications: "Migration of bisphenol A (BPA) from epoxy-coated can surfaces to infant formula concentrates is reported. Levels of BPA in the undiluted concentrates surveyed in this study range from 0.1 to 13 parts per billion (ppb).

1997 Paper

Only Two Companies in US Confirm Using BPA-Free Cans

Natural Mews.com: "Given these uncertain times, it makes sense to have a reserve food supply. Canned food not only provides long term storage and survives external contamination, but also provides a back up in the event of a food shortage. However, it turns out that most canned foods (even 'USDA Organic') contain plastic liners that leach potentially dangerous chemicals into the food. 

The most notable contaminant is Bisphenol-A (BPA), a powerful hormone disruptor that has been linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems. Only two canned food companies in the nation were found not to contain any BPA! We will review these companies in this article."

Bisphenol A Information & Resources

Bisphenol A Information & Resources: "This website is a comprehensive resource for environmental, health and safety information about bisphenol A (BPA). Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins – both of which are used in countless applications that make our lives easier, healthier and safer, each and every day."

Groups urge BPA ban in all food packaging

globeandmail.com: : "BPA isn't completely stable in packaging and traces migrate due to the natural acidity of many foods and the effects of the high temperatures used in food sterilization.

The amounts leaching from cans are minuscule - often only parts per billion - but naturally produced estrogen is active at the parts-per-trillion level, a thousand times less."

FDA Maintains Bisphenol A Is Safe

AAARPBulletintoday: "The Food and Drug Administration is sticking with its ruling that bisphenol A is safe, outraging lawmakers and health advocates who say the chemical is toxic and should be banned.

The FDA posted a letter Monday to members of its advisory board saying that it will review more studies and conduct more research. But unless it uncovers something new, it will continue to recommend that bisphenol A, or BPA, is safe for use in all products, including baby bottles.

'At this moment, with all information in front of us, we do not believe we have the data on which we could base a regulatory ban,' said Laura Tarantino, chief of the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety.

The FDA regulates chemicals used in food packaging."

"With today's announcement, it's clear that the FDA plans to kick the BPA-lined can down the road," said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). "While scientific experts, foreign countries and the FDA's own review panel sound the alarm on BPA's safety, the agency prefers to delay action and downplay the urgency of banning BPA in food and beverage containers."

Markey said he is planning to re-introduce legislation to restrict BPA's use in January.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is also re-introducing a BPA ban.

FDA To Revise BPA Review, Considers Independent Studies

CNNMOney: "The Food and Drug Administration is revising its draft assessment on a chemical commonly found in baby bottles, saying it will reconsider some independent studies that showed Bisphenol-A, or BPA, isn't safe at current levels.

The FDA's original report on BPA, issued in August, relied on studies funded by the chemical industry and said the chemical is safe at levels currently found in plastic baby bottles and canned foods.

But scientists balked, saying the FDA shouldn't have ignored the hundreds of independent studies that have found BPA is harmful to humans. An FDA panel of outside medical experts in October agreed, saying those studies deserve more attention.

The FDA is re-evaluating some independent studies it excluded in the original assessment to determine whether they warrant more consideration, said Norris Alderson, the FDA's associate commissioner for science, in a Dec. 3 letter to an FDA advisory board."

The FDA is also actively searching for new data on BPA and has already started reviewing two studies the panel suggested it look at, according to Alderson's letter.

Protect kids with stricter regulation of chemicals, group urges

cbc.ca: "The group called for a ban on phthalates in children's products, such as soft vinyl toys. Phthalates are also found in many personal care products.

Other contaminants that the group is concerned about include:

- Bisphenol A or BPA, the plastic additive found in the lining of food cans and in many rigid plastic containers.
- Polybrominated flame retardants found in TVs and computers.
The coalition recommended that the federal government boost its legislative power to issue mandatory recalls of products when problems are discovered, and adopt a substitution principle to use safer alternatives to toxic chemicals when possible.

It also urged labelling to give parents more information.

The partnership of 11 groups also included the Canadian Child Care Federation, Pollution Probe, the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada."

Green is the new colour of growth

TheStar.com: "Can we revive our economy with better sewage treatment? Can we provide less costly electricity by getting more renewable energy pumping through our provincial electricity grid? Can we increase our competitiveness by putting a price on climate pollution? Can we create new economic opportunities by changing the lining in our tin cans?"

... by rewarding industries that clean up their act and spurring action by laggards; and eliminating toxics by developing safer substitutes for substances like bisphenol A, currently found in the lining of most food cans.

FDA Draws Fire Over Chemicals In Baby Formula

Conservative Revolutionary American Party III: "The US Food and Drug Administration has found industrial chemicals melamine and cyanuric acid in samples of baby formula made by major US manufacturers. 

Public health groups, consumer advocates and members of Congress blasted the Food and Drug Administration yesterday for failing to act after discovering trace amounts of the industrial chemical melamine in baby formula sold in the United States."

Cats suffering hyperthyroidism from chemical in the linings in metal cans of cat food

maynardsclark.spaces.live.com: "Several studies found an increased likelihood of developing thyroid disease in cats who eat a lot of canned food. 

Specifically, they found a higher incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats that ate fish or 'giblet' canned foods. 'Giblet' is another name for organ meats commonly listed on pet food labels as by-products.' Better-quality, natural cat foods do not contain by-products, although some include specific organ meats like liver. Just what it is in these foods that is the culprit is unknown."

Recent research suggests that the culprit may be a chemical (bisphenol A and similar compounds) found in can linings of easy-open "pop-top" cans that can leach  out into the food and cause toxicity (the smaller the can, the more chemical exposure the food has). However, there are at least 25 different types of can linings, and the particular type used by a manufacture may change over time.   It is difficult to know which foods may be affected, and to what degree. The FDA, however, has stated that the amount of  chemicals that may leach into the food is unlikely to cause disease.

A new study that recently captured media attention suggests that fire-retardant chemicals known as PBDEs may be a factor in feline hyperthyroidism. The combination of PBDEs, can liner chemicals, and excess iodine may be too much for many cats to handle. 

BPA in My Tomatoes? Ugh

Tripletly Blessed: "I was catching up on my magazine reading and came across this interesting tidbit in Prevention. Apparently the inside of cans are coated in Bisphenol-A (BPA) and acidic foods leach the BPA out of the coating more than non-acidic foods. As someone who loves to use tomato paste and canned chopped tomatoes in her cooking, this shocked me and worries me.

I have worked hard to get rid of most things that have BPA in them for the girls. I switched them from Avent bottles to glass Momo bottles. I got rid of most of our plastic sippies and stocked up on Klean Kanteens and Siggs. I got rid of the plastic flatware we had and got some Oneida and Ikea flatware. After learning about this, I've cut pack considerably on my canned tomato usage, but I still like the convienence of the cans."

More calls for a BPA ban in the US

The Canmaker: "A US congressman is planning to get bisphenol-A (BPA), the chemical used to make polycarbonate bottles and some can coatings, banned following a campaign by a Milwaukee newspaper.

Edward Markey, a democrat from Massachusetts, said he plans to re-introduce a bill when the US congress convenes in January that will ban BPA from use in food and drinks containers."

Markey is responding to an article by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in Wisconsin, which funded a study by a research centre into the leaching of BPA from ‘microwave-safe’ containers that included a can of Stagg Chili made by Hormel Foods. The study claims that levels of BPA were high enough to replicate in humans the toxic effects found in research on animals.

The study was carried out by XeroAnalytical LLC, based in Columbia, Missouri.

The highest level of BPA found per container was 1,094 nanograms from a can of infant formula. This is one six-hundredth of the tolerable daily intake allowed in Europe, which in turn is set with a safety factor of five. The Stagg Chili can level was 356 ng.

“This test of ‘microwave safe’ containers adds to the already vast and compelling body of knowledge indicating that BPA is dangerous and unsuitable for all food and beverage containers,” Markey said.

Another of the products analysed was from Campbell Soup. John Faulkner, its director of brand communications, told the newspaper that the BPA levels allegedly found by the tests were too low for public concern. The level was 12 nanograms.

“These levels are extremely low,” Faulkner said, referring specifically to his company’s Just Heat & Enjoy tomato soup product. “In fact, you might just be able to find similar levels in plain old tap water due to ‘background’ levels.”

The P-word

The P-word: "I haven’t used canned soup since I was in college. I like making homemade soup. It’s easy and it tastes better. But what’s more… I just have no desire to eat something that was encased in plastic in a can. Bisphenol A doesn’t belong in my food or in my body. Here’s an interesting reference to the plastic-in-food debate:"

Panel of independent scientists rebukes FDA on BPA in baby bottles

Cleveland.com: "Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that worked to get toxic ingredients out of cosmetics and sunscreens, says her main concern is reducing exposure for infants."

Because of their small size, they may be exposed to more intense levels of BPA relative to their body size from baby bottles that have been heated (BPA may leach from plastic) and canned infant formula.

The Environmental Working Group and other groups recommend switching to powder formula or, if that isn't possible, then to liquid formulas sold in glass or plastic containers.

Lunder also recommends reducing canned food consumption in general because of BPA in the liners but still thinks the biggest area of concern is for infants.

"No one eats only canned food for six months other than a formula-fed baby," she said

Canada says plastic in water bottles is unsafe

NYT: "Canada on Friday became the first country to declare bisphenol A, a chemical used in hundreds of common household products, a toxin. It immediately declared a ban on the sale, import and advertising of baby bottles made with the chemical."

The move follows an announcement by Wal-Mart that the retail giant has halted sales in its Canadian stores of baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, food containers and water bottles made with bisphenol A. The company will convert its U.S. stock by early next year, a spokesman said.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) said he would call upon infant formula companies to remove bisphenol A from the lining of their canned products.

Dingell, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, have been investigating the use of bisphenol A in products intended for use by infants and children.

On Tuesday, the U.S. National Toxicology Program released a report finding that bisphenol A posed a possible risk to human health, particularly to fetuses, infants and young children. The chemical has been found to cause a host of problems in laboratory animals, including cancer, obesity and reproductive failures.

Tony Clement, Canada's minister of health, called the new policy a historic approach.

"Instead of making government prove that a chemical is unsafe, we are putting the onus on industry," he said.

John Baird, Canada's minister of the environment, called the decision the most important in decades on a single chemical.

"This shows the world that we are serious about protecting human health," Baird said.

Chemical makers maintain that bisphenol A is safe. Canada's announcement provides reassurance to parents concerned about the chemical, Steve Hentges, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Council, said in a news conference Friday.

On Thursday, the American Chemistry Council sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration requesting that the federal agency review the safety of bisphenol A in food packaging. Two years ago, the FDA declared bisphenol A was safe. Dingell and Stupak's investigation in Congress revealed this year that that FDA had relied on two studies, both of which were paid for by the chemical industry.

NRDC Calls on Food and Drug Administration to Ban BPA from Food Packaging to Protect Children

Kansas City infoZine News - USA: "Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging. BPA is found in plastic bottles and metal containers, and poses a serious health risk, especially to infants and children.

'When parents prepare their infant's bottle, pour their toddler's juice, or make their family dinner with a can of soup or vegetables - they shouldn't have to worry they are feeding their children dangerous chemicals. The FDA's current approval of BPA as a food additive is not safe and could result in serious health problems,' said Dr. Sarah Janssen, scientist in the health program at NRDC. 'The FDA must do its job and safeguard our food supply by banning BPA in all food packaging.'"

NRDC

FDA Statement November 2008

WSPA: "Here’s the latest statement from the FDA on the subject.

“We believe there is a large body of evidence that indicates that FDA-regulated products containing BPA currently on the market are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from food contact materials, including for infants and children, are below those that may cause health effects. However, we will continue to consider new research and information as they become available.”

Since there is no ruling on whether BPA in these plastics or canned goods should be banned, it is up to you the consumer to decide whether it is safe for your family."

The Dangers of BPA: What You Need To Know

WSPA: "Dr. Cindy Lee with Clemson University says, “It is showing up in many situations in people in their blood and urine. Animal tests, more than 700 studies, show that at very low concentrations there are things like increased prostate cancer, increased rates of breast cancer, type II diabetes, obesity are showing up in these animal studies.”

According to Dr. Lee, we are getting most of our BPA exposure through canned goods which make up 17% of Americans diets.
Notice the white coating on the inside of canned food, that white coating is made of BPA.

Dr. Lee says, “It is to prevent corrosion, bacterial contamination.” We also get it in our system by storing and heating food in certain plastic containers."

BPA leaches from 'safe' products

JSOnline: "Food company officials say the doses detected in the tests are so low that they are insignificant to human health.

'These levels are EXTREMELY low,' wrote John Faulkner, director of brand communications for Campbell Soup Co. Tests of the company's Just Heat & Enjoy tomato soup showed its container leached some of the lowest levels of BPA found. 'In fact, you might just be able to find similar levels in plain old tap water due to 'background' levels. We are talking 40 to 60 parts per trillion (ppt). What is 40 to 60 ppt? 40 to 60 seconds in 32,000 years!'

But the Journal Sentinel identified several peer-reviewed studies that found harm to animals at levels similar to those detected in the newspaper's tests - in some cases, as low as 25 parts per trillion. Scientists with an expertise in BPA say the findings are cause for concern, especially considering how vulnerable a baby's development is and how even tiny amounts of BPA can trigger cell damage."

Is BPA safe or no? Gov't leaves consumers confused

The Associated Press: "Get to know your plastics,' says Urvashi Rangan, a senior scientist with Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports. Avoid polycarbonate plastic containers, those imprinted with the recycling number '7' and the letters 'PC.' Don't microwave foods in these containers. Don't use polycarbonate plastic baby bottles. Consider powdered infant formula instead of liquid formula in cans. Cut down on canned foods.

'If you the consumer want to take matters into your own hands while the science is being sorted out here, those are the things you can do that will directly reduce your level of exposure to BPA,' said Rangan."

The canning industry thinks there would be unintended consequences. The chemical is used to make epoxy resins that coat and seal the inside of cans. That prevents leaks and keeps bacteria from contaminating the foods inside.

"Although we are looking for alternatives, they are not readily available, and there is no 'drop-in' replacement for these uses," said John Rost, chairman of the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, a trade group. "Quick changes that have not been evaluated could impact the real safety issue: food poisoning."

Short of a ban on all BPA in food containers, Canada has banned it in baby bottles as a precaution.

How to Avoid a Controversial Plastics Chemical

Health: "Scientists aren't in full agreement about whether the chemical known as bisphenol A, which is used in the production of certain plastics and can leach into food and drink, poses health hazards. Today, an expert panel organized by the National Institutes of Health concluded that the hormone-mimicking chemical poses minimal health risks overall. But a statement made last week by 38 independent scientists warned of a wide range of adverse health effects."

For people who want to play it safe and minimize their exposure to the controversial chemical, experts have some tips: Avoid storing food or beverages in polycarbonate plastic, which is often used to make baby bottles and "sippy" cups, 5-gallon water cooler jugs, and hard, transparent water bottles, among other products. And avoid canned goods, since the linings of metal cans often contain bisphenol A. For people who continue to use polycarbonate food and drink containers, not heating them should also reduce exposure, says Frederick vom Saal of the University of Missouri, who is a vocal critic of bisphenol A.

Scientists rebut federal finding on baby safety

tradingmarkets.com: "In a paper released online this month in the journal Reproductive Toxicology, a team of researchers at the University of Missouri published a study that strikes at the core of the panel's findings on bisphenol A, a chemical found in baby bottles and the linings of food cans.

The researchers have shown that the panel's decision to disregard dozens of studies in which animals were exposed to the chemical via injections, instead of through the mouth or stomach, was specious. And they are calling on the government to re-evaluate, or dismiss, the panel's conclusions."

The panel wrote that because people are most likely exposed to bisphenol A by the mouth, when it leaches into canned foods or liquids consumed in clear plastic bottles, it's the only relevant way to expose animals.

It also cited research showing that when adult animals and people ingest bisphenol A, enzymes in the liver make the chemical inactive. However, when adult animals are injected with the chemical, this route is bypassed, and they show much higher concentrations.

The FDA must act now to restrict bisphenol A

The Sahuarita Sun: "Based on the weight of independent research, the government should:

Ban the use of metal containers for infant formula or food products clearly intended for young children until a liner that doesn’t use BPA can be developed.
...
Require the food and beverage industry to find an alternative to BPA epoxy liners in cans—and give manufacturers a firm timetable.

This process may take time, because industry spokesmen say there is no good alternative at the moment.

Can liners help prevent exposing food to bacteria, so it’s imperative to get this right, but there is no reason that the FDA cannot establish a reasonable time frame for compliance."

Is that BPA in your soup can?

Julie's Health Club: "Though the FDA has assured consumers that BPA is safe for use in food containers, an independent panel of scientific advisors yesterday issued a scientific rebuke, calling the FDA report badly flawed.

But both Campbell's and Progresso say they're not considering packaging alternatives to BPA.

'Bisphenol A has been used in can linings for decades and is approved for use as safe,' said Progresso spokesman Tom Forsythe. 'There isn't a commercial alternative at the moment.'"

Common plastic may cause cancer

CollegiateTimes.com : "The effect of the chemical is also very important, and has received considerable media attention. BPA is so widespread that many plastic bottle users may have traces of it in their bodies. An article written for the Associated Press by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, cites that consumers need to 'get to know your plastics.'

'Consider powdered infant formula instead of liquid formula in cans,' Alonso-Zaldivar (Los Angeles Times reporter) said. 'Cut down on canned foods.'"

Bisphenol A Found To Have No Reproductive And Developmental Effects At Low Doses, According To Gradient

Medical News Today: "Recently, an expert panel led by scientists at Gradient Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts completed an extensive scientific review of the reproductive and developmental effects of bisphenol A. Based on its review of all the relevant scientific literature, the panel found no consistent evidence of reproductive or developmental effects of bisphenol A at typical human exposure levels. The review considered all studies published through July 2008 that examined reproductive and developmental toxicity in animals at low bisphenol A doses. No studies were excluded based on study design or source of funding."

According to Dr. Lorenz Rhomberg, the senior author of the review, "The hypothesis that the low levels of bisphenol A to which people are exposed could disrupt reproduction and development is not supported by coherent, consistent, or compelling evidence." 

Government agencies from the US, the European Union, and Japan have also concluded that bisphenol A is not harmful at the low amounts to which people are normally exposed. Most recently, in a draft report, the US Food and Drug Administration concluded that the trace amounts of bisphenol A that leach out of food containers are not a threat to infants or adults. These conclusions are partly based on the results of several large studies of the effects of bisphenol A in rats and mice that were dosed with bisphenol A continuously over multiple generations. In these studies, animals were exposed during all life stages from conception through adulthood and reproduction. Bisphenol A had no effects on these animals at doses including those similar to human exposure levels. 

There is agreement among these panels and government agencies that effects of bisphenol A only occur at exposures approximately 100,000 times higher than a person would typically ingest. In addition, people are better at excreting ingested bisphenol A than are rats and mice. In people, bisphenol A in the body is converted to a metabolite that does not have estrogen-like activity, and is rapidly eliminated in the urine. Despite the media attention suggesting otherwise, to date, the overwhelming majority of government and academic scientific panels have concluded that bisphenol A is safe at the very low amounts that people normally ingest. 

This effort was funded by the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, and the panel included Gradient scientists Drs. Lorenz Rhomberg and Julie Goodman, as well as Dr. Glenn Sipes of the University of Arizona and former president of the Society of Toxicology, Dr. Ernest E. McConnell, formerly of the National Toxicology Program, and Dr. Raphael Witorsch of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. The full report has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology 

BPA exposure linked to chemotherapy resistance

Reuters: "Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) -- a man-made chemical found in a number of plastic products, including drinking bottles and the lining of food cans -- may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments, scientists report in the latest issue of Environmental Health Perspectives."

BPA, which has been in the news lately as a potential health hazard, has been suspected to play a role in cancer because of the chemical's structural similarities to the cancer-promoting compound DES (diethylstilbestrol). However, few studies have examined BPA's potential effects on the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy.

Dr. Nira Ben-Jonathan and colleagues from University of Cincinnati, Ohio, subjected human breast cancer cells to low levels of BPA consistent with levels found in the blood of adults. They found that BPA acts in cancer cells similar to the way estrogen does -- by inducing proteins that protect the cells from chemotherapy.

"BPA does not increase cancer cell proliferation like DES does," Ben-Jonathan noted in a university-issued statement. "It's actually acting by protecting existing cancer cells from dying in response to anti-cancer drugs, making chemotherapy significantly less effective."

"These data highlight a previously unrecognized function of bisphenol A," the investigators conclude, "thereby adding a strong support to the growing recognition of the adverse effects of bisphenol A on human health."

SOURCE: Environmental Health Perspectives, October 2008.

Bisphenol A Meeting Should Be Canceled, Lawmaker Says

Bloomberg.com:: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should cancel a meeting on the safety of bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastic, because of conflicts of interest involving an agency adviser, a lawmaker said.

The leader of an FDA subcommittee reviewing the agency's assessment of the chemical heads a University of Michigan center that received funding from a company that makes bisphenol A, said Representative Rosa DeLauro, in a letter to be released tomorrow. The Oct. 31 meeting and a related report should be canceled, said DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat."

EFSA Gives BPA All-Clear

EFSA:  22nd October EFSA published a statement on its review of BPA in the light of the JAMA paper making no change to TDI limits in the absence of a 'causal link' between BPA levels measured and the medical disoders described.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) received a request on 29 September 2008 from the European Commission requesting an assessment of the implications to the hazard and risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on 16 September (Lang et al.,2008), correlating urinary BPA concentrations to medical disorders in adults.

The former EFSA Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC) carried out a comprehensive risk assessment on bisphenol A (BPA) in 2006 and set a full Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 0.05 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day. EFSA concluded that this single study does not provide sufficient proof for a causal link between exposure to BPA and the health conditions mentioned in the study, i.e. heart disease,diabetes and elevated liver-enzyme activities. 

Therefore, EFSA considers that there is no need to revise the TDI as derived by the AFC Panel in 2006. 

Government scrutiny of BPA unlikely to affect beverages

BevNET.com "Despite government scrutiny, the results of any review of BPA are unlikely to affect the beverage industry, said Geoff Cullen, Director of Government Relations for the Can Manufacturers Institute.

“If it was going to go, it would go infant formula, children’s products, food cans and the last would be beverage products,” Cullen said of increased regulation.

Beverage cans, he said, have a particularly light coat of the epoxy lining that contains BPA, and consumers do not typically heat beverage cans – a process that tends to increase the transfer of BPA into a container’s contents.

“I don’t even think you can measure the beverage data, it’s so low,” he said.

Even in other product packaging, Cullen said the presence of BPA leaching into foods ranked in as “single digits parts per billion.” The government of Canada and other groups pushing for the chemical to be banned are taking a “better safe than sorry” approach, he added.

“For now, we are standing behind the science,” he said.

BevNET contacted the American Beverage Association, Ball Corporation and Rexam Beverage Cans Americas for comment on this article, but none of those organizations returned comment in time to be included."

Government finds no conflict of interest in PBA study

Newsday.com: "The government cleared a prominent outside adviser yesterday of conflict-of-interest allegations involving his findings on whether a chemical used to make plastic food containers poses a health risk."

But officials recommended University of Michigan toxicologist Martin Philbert refrain from voting when the FDA's Science Board considers his report on the chemical, bisphenol A tomorrow.

Infant Formula Makers, Canned Food Producers Called on to Remove BPA

AScribe Newswiret: "In the wake of an FDA advisory panel's devastating rebuke of the agency's safety assessment for the toxic plastics chemical bisphenol A (BPA), Environmental Working Group (EWG) has written North America's leading infant formula manufacturers and canned food producers urging them to take immediate steps to remove BPA from canned infant formula and other canned foods.

"Liquid formula is the biggest culprit in exposing infants to a toxic hormone-disrupting chemical, but kid-friendly foods like canned chicken noodle soup and ravioli also have high levels of BPA," said EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder. "BPA was initially used as a sex hormone. It should never have been allowed to come into contact with infant formula."

"The evidence is overwhelming that FDA has been the industry's lapdog," Lunder said. "Manufacturers must immediately repackage formula and canned food to remove this chemical, shown by many studies to cause brain and reproductive system damage in crucial stages of development."

A 2007 Environmental Working Group survey of the four leading makers of liquid formula sold in North America found that all used BPA-based epoxy resin coating to line their formula cans. These included Nestle (Good Start), Ross-Abbot (Similac and Isomil), MeadJohnson (Enfamil), and PBM (maker of store-brand formulas sold at Target, Kroger and dozens of other retailers).

An EWG research report, Toxic Plastics Chemical in Infant Formula, concluded that infants fed exclusively on canned ready-to-eat formula are exposed to unsafe levels of BPA and that one in 16 babies on liquid formula are exposed to doses exceeding those that caused damage in laboratory animals.

EWG found that infants fed liquid formula, which can make up their total diet for the first six months of life, suffered the greatest exposures to the toxin. EWG calculations show that babies should not be fed liquid formula sold in metal cans. Powdered formula or liquid types sold in plastic containers are BPA-free options.

In a second study, also in 2007, EWG laboratory tests found BPA in 20 out of 30 brands of canned food, amounting to more than half of the cans of foods tested. One to three servings per day of foods found to be highly contaminated, including chicken soup and ravioli, could expose an infant, child or a pregnant woman to BPA at levels that have caused serious harm in animal studies.

Food brands found to contain BPA were B&M, Bush's Best, Campbell's Chunky, Campbell's Spaghettios, Campbell's Swanson, Chef Boyardee, Chicken of the Sea, Coca-Cola, Del Monte, Dole, Ensure, Green Giant, Kroger store brand, Libby's, Nestle Carnation, Pepsi-Cola, Progresso, S&W, Slim-Fast and Wolfgang Puck.

In a strongly worded report released Tuesday, the FDA Science Board's BPA subcommittee concluded that an internal FDA assessment of BPA contained a number of serious scientific flaws and significantly underestimated the health risks of BPA.

Beware of BPA in Food Containers, says FDA Panel

The Money Times: "In a worrisome turn of events, the FDA advisory panel has pointed out that the agency had been mistaken to pass off the chemical BPA, which is widely used in the manufacture of baby feeding bottles and in other plastic items, as harmless."

The FDA Science Board voted unanimously Friday at a meeting in Gaithersburg to accept a report that criticized the agency's recent risk assessment of bisphenol-A (BPA).

The report alleged the FDA ignored scores of government-funded studies that traced connections between exposure to low doses of BPA and increased incidence of diabetes, heart disease, hyperactivity, and cancer in laboratory animals.

While advising the FDA to re-assess the risks involved in the use of BPA, the report told the Science Board advisory panel that it does not declare BPA as harmful. The authors are also silent on the question of banning the substance in the manufacture of food and beverage containers. The onus of decision in this regard has been left on FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach.

Agency spokeswoman Judy Leon has committed a written response to the Science Board's decision and the report within the next 30 days.

Meanwhile, opinion has been building up across a cross-section of the society that the FDA should impose a ban on the use of BPA in the manufacture of food and beverage containers, at least till it is proved safe.

An advocacy group called The Environmental Working Group appealed to infant formula makers for voluntary elimination of BPA from the cans. Most of the large-scale formula manufacturers have opined that that they plan to phase out BPA as soon as they secure FDA approval for alternatives.

However, there are doubts about easy access to alternatives. According to John Rost, chairman of the North American Metal Packaging Manufacturing Association, it could take as much as two years for FDA-approved alternatives to be phased in.

Scientists from CDC, EPA Criticize FDA on Chemical Used in Plastic Bottles

US Recall News Alert: "This week a seven-member scientific panel, including toxicology and environmental health experts from the EPA and CDC, issued a strongly worded report criticizing the FDA on their response to concerns over products containing bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical used in the making of plastic water bottles, baby bottles, food containers and other products from which BPA could leach into food and drinks.

According to the panel the FDA ignored strong evidence to the contrary and used flawed methods when determining that BPA is not harmful. Comprised of scientists from government and universities the report claims that the FDA did not consider dozens of studies linking BPA to diseases and conditions like diabetes, prostate cancer, early puberty and sexual dysfunctions in animals."

Safeway US Bans BPA Baby Bottles

Kamcity.com: "US grocer Safeway Inc has announced that it will stop selling baby bottles that contain the plastic ingredient bisphenol-A. The move comes after BPA, which is also found in water bottles and baby formula cans, can cause health problems.

The chain follows Wal-Mart, Babies “R” Us, and Whole Food Markets in taking such a decision."

BPA Exposure May Affect Behaviors

InjuryBoard.com: "The National Toxicology Program of Health and Human Services issues the following warnings:

Do not microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. They may break down from overuse and release BPA. BPA containing containers have a #7 on the bottom within the recycle symbol, a triangle with arrows.

Reduce the use of canned foods especially acidic foods such s tomatoes that can cause BOPA to leach into the food. Opt instead for soups in the “brick” cardboard containers or safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene plastic (Labeled #2) in the recycle logo.

Switch to glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, especially for hot food or liquids.

Use baby bottles that are BPA free or glass."

NTP Brief, September 2008

US Pediatric Association Issues BPA Warning

American Academy of Pediatrics:  The American Academy of Pediatrics has just issued a warning to all of us who are members that an advisory body to the FDA has concerns about the safety of bisphenol (BPA). This is a chemical used in many hard plastic products. This includes baby bottles and the lining of metal cans, including infant formula cans.

Q:  Should I stop using canned liquid formula?

A:  If you are considering switching from liquid to powdered formula, note that the mixing procedures may differ, so pay special attention when preparing formula from powder.

If your baby is on specialized formula to address a medical condition, you should not switch to another  formula, as the known risks would outweigh any potential risks posed by BPA. Risks associated with giving your baby homemade condensed milk formulas or soy or goat milk are far greater than the potential effects of BPA

NAMPA Expresses Confidence in BPA Safety for Food Packaging Applications

NAMPA: The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. (NAMPA) today reiterated its confidence in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and all regulatory authorities around the world that have concluded bisphenol A (BPA) is safe for use in food packaging applications, including those for infants and adults. The statement comes in the wake of the release of an FDA Science Board BPA Subcommittee report questioning the process the agency used to assess the chemical.

In its report, the BPA Subcommittee said FDA did not articulate reasonable support for criteria used to deselect a group of studies purportedly conducted utilizing recognized research methodology. The BPA Subcommittee advised reconsideration of these same studies, which the FDA had previously rejected citing flawed research design and procedure.

“It would be a departure from accepted FDA practice for a scientific determination to be reached without a thorough and valid review, including access to the raw data,” said Dr. John Rost, NAMPA Chair. “We encourage FDA to look at all these studies, including the full data, to validate any findings. We remain confident in the regulatory review process to ensure public safety and protect public health. The Subcommittee’s recommendations are just one step in this review process.”

Science panel faults FDA assessment of plastics additive

Factiva: "An independent scientific advisory panel slammed the Food and Drug Administration's assessment that a controversial plastics additive is safe, saying it failed to take into account numerous scientific studies and came to faulty conclusions."

The scientists determined that the agency's assessment raises "several significant concerns," including the lack of an adequate number of infant formula samples -- the agency took 14 samples for its exposure assessment -- and the failure to account for the variability in samples.

FDA also focuses solely on food contact applications without considering potential cumulative effects from non-food contact exposures to the chemical, the scientists note. For example, FDA initially decided to leave out biomonitoring studies that could have helped understand those cumulative exposures, leaving the agency with a "limited approach."

Furthermore, since FDA excludes a large number of scientific studies from its analysis because they do not meet certain guideline requirements, even the focus on food contact applications is not sufficient. "A lack of consideration of the totality of exposures from other sources severely limits the usefulness of the safety assessment with respect to food contact applications," the report says.

Congress questions FDA objectivity on BPA plastic safety

USATODAY.com: "According to a letter to the FDA from Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak sent last week, the FDA hired a private consulting group with strong industry ties to perform some of its analyses of BPA. Work performed by Virginia-based ICF International 'formed the basis for the draft,' says Jodi Seth, a spokeswoman for the House of Representatives' Committee on Energy and Commerce, which Dingell chairs.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, also wants to know exactly who wrote the FDA report.

In a letter to the FDA last month, Grassley pointed out that the report appears to be anonymous. He has written to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach to supply him with the names of everyone who worked on it."

Attorneys general from Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware have asked 11 companies to stop using BPA in baby bottles and formula cans. In response to Dingell and Stupak's investigation, major baby formula manufacturers have said they are working to take BPA out of the linings of their liquid formula cans

Scientists slam FDA report on bisphenol A chemical

JSOnline.com: "Lawmakers, scientists and advocacy groups intensified their criticism Thursday of a government report declaring bisphenol A to be safe.

• A group of 36 international scientists issued a blistering assessment of the Food and Drug Administration report, calling it seriously flawed.

• A congressman whose committee oversees the FDA wrote the commissioner, renewing his call for a ban of the controversial chemical.

• An advocacy group demanded that the FDA cancel its meeting next week to discuss the draft."

3rd Largest U.S. Supermarket Chain to Ban Baby Bottles with Bisphenol-A

thedailygreen.com: "Safeway will stop selling plastic baby bottles made with Bisphenol-A, the controversial chemical that mimics estrogen and has been linked to a range of health problems.

The nation's third-largest supermarket chain, Safeway has 1,775 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Its announcement comes just days after Canada announced it would ban the use of the chemical in baby bottles. The Food and Drug Administration has taken no action to restrict use of the chemical in the U.S., and has instead stood by its safety while being criticized for relying on industry-backed studies instead of a growing body of independent and government research. The National Toxicology Program, a U.S. agency, declared its concern over the health safety of the chemical just weeks ago.

Other retailers and manufacturers to announce voluntary bans on the use of Bisphenol-A in certain products include Whole Foods, Walmart, Toys-R-Us, Nalgene and Camelbak."

FDA Conspired with Chemical Industry to Declare Bisphenol-A Harmless

Natural News: "The FDA has been caught red-handed conspiring with the chemical industry to conclude that Bisphenol-A, the plastics chemical, is harmless to human health. As revealed by the Environmental Working Group (see below), the FDA based its evaluation of BPA on a report authored by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a trade group that represents chemical companies and plastics manufacturers."

Canada to Ban Bisphenol A in Baby Bottles, U.S. Urged to Follow

NBC Chicago: "Today in Washington, DC, the Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of bisphenol A in all food packaging and as a food additive. 

The national nonprofit organization says in its petition that the chemical 'causes serious adverse health effects, and the FDA's continued approval of BPA for use in food packaging violates federal law.' 'When parents prepare their infant's bottle, pour their toddler's juice, or make their family dinner with a can of soup or vegetables, they shouldn't have to worry they are feeding their children dangerous chemicals,' said Dr. Sarah Janssen, scientist in the health program at the Natural Resources Defense Council."

Is it safe to heat food in plastic containers?

Salt Lake Tribune: "A five-month investigation by Good Housekeeping Research Institute, working with an independent laboratory, found that none of the food samples tested had BPA or phthalates in them after storage or microwaving. But there is more to understand. 

Technicians analyzed 31 containers, lids, bags, wraps and slow-cook liners to see whether BPA and phthalates were present. Four items had low levels of the chemicals - Rubbermaid Premier containers, Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids containers, Glad Storage Gallon Zipper Bags and Glad Press 'n Seal plastic wrap."

Plastics industry behind FDA research on bisphenol A, study finds

JS Online: "A government report claiming that bisphenol A is safe was written largely by the plastics industry and others with a financial stake in the controversial chemical, the Journal Sentinel found."

Although the Food and Drug Administration will not reveal who prepared its draft, the agency's own documents show that the work was done primarily by those with the most to gain by downplaying concerns about the safety of the chemical.

That includes Stephen Hentges, executive director of the American Chemistry Council's group on bisphenol A, who commissioned a review of all studies of the neurotoxicity of bisphenol A and submitted it to the FDA. The FDA then used that report as the foundation for its evaluation of the chemical on neural and behavioral development. The American Chemistry Council is a trade group representing chemical manufacturers.

The FDA's draft, released in August, found no cause for worry about bisphenol A, which is found in thousands of household products, including baby bottles, infant formula containers and the lining of aluminum cans.

That finding is at odds with the conclusions of the FDA's own advisers from the National Toxicology Program. The NTP announced in September that the chemical is of some concern for effects on the development of the prostate gland and brain, and for behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children. The NTP also found some concern for the neurodevelopment of young children, infants and fetuses.

U.S. Chemical Company Challenges Pesticide Ban

Embassymag: "The issue of free trade was largely a non-issue during our recent federal election. However, the North American Free Trade Agreement might have garnered a few headlines if the Feds had disclosed that U.S. chemical giant Dow signalled in late August that it is gearing up to sue Canada.

Dow Agrosciences insists Quebec's province-wide ban on the residential use of weed-killing chemicals breaches legal protections owed by Canada to U.S. investors under the NAFTA. The U.S. company, which has an extensive manufacturing and sales operation in Canada, wants to be compensated by the Feds for losses incurred to its star product, 2,4-D, one of the most popular chemical ingredients used in commercial pesticides."

Could affect BPA ban.

Health Canada Reaffirms Safety Of BPA For Use In Metal Food Packaging

NAMPA: "Today’s announcement by Health Canada regarding completion of its assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) offers reassurance to Canadians that the use of this chemical in the production of epoxy resins in metal food and beverage packaging presents no risk to consumers."

Health Canada also announced that it is continuing its efforts to work cooperatively with industry to develop a Code of Practice to evaluate infant formula and ensure the highest standards of protection for this use. NAMPA, along with manufacturers of canned infant formula, has been working cooperatively with the Canadian government since it began its review of BPA in April. Those efforts have focused on reevaluating the already exceedingly low levels of BPA to ensure that they represent the lowest achievable levels. NAMPA has been an active participant in this process from the start as it is consistent with its members’ commitment to the highest standards of product health and safety.

NAMPA is encouraged by Heath Canada’s assessment of the safety of metal packaging for food and beverages. Health Canada is well aware of the critical importance of epoxy coatings in protecting the food supply in Canada. We are gratified that following the Canadian assessment of BPA, government officials have reached the same conclusion as the United States Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, among others, that BPA-based epoxy coatings are safe to use in contact with food and beverages.

Canada To Limit Bisphenol A In Baby Bottles

Planet Ark: "The Canadian government will move to limit sales of baby bottles made with the chemical bisphenol A, a suspected carcinogen widely used for hardening and shatterproofing plastic and lining food tins."

The announcement, published in the government's official newspaper the Canada Gazette on Saturday, comes amid mounting evidence it can leach into food and beverages.

The substance has been linked to cancer and infertility in laboratory animals and has also been tied to incidents of heart disease and diabetes in humans.

"It is concluded that bisphenol A be considered as a toxic substance that may be entering the environment in quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health," the Canadian environment and health ministries said.

The government is proposing to allow the lowest amount of bisphenol A as "reasonably achievable in infant formula cans."

The announcement commits the government to working with industry to limit bisphenol A in the linings of infant formula tins but does not propose to eliminate it in the many other consumer products.

Health Canada makes it official: BPA is health hazard

Canada.com: "Canada on Saturday will become the first country to formally declare bisphenol A hazardous to human health and officially inform the baby-product industry it will no longer be able to use the chemical in baby bottles." Canada's announcement comes six months after Health Minister Tony Clement surprised the chemical industry by announcing the government's plan to place bisphenol A on its list of toxic substances and ban its use in baby bottles.

In unveiling the "precautionary and prudent" move, Clement proposed a limited ban of the widely used chemical, also found in hard plastic sports bottles and the lining of food cans.

Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence and co-author of the forthcoming book Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health, said the expected declaration is a "good start." But he said new evidence continues to pile up, pointing to the detrimental health effects of bisphenol A on adults. "There's new science coming out on a weekly basis pointing to this chemical being a health concern for adults. Baby bottles are a good start, but the government now needs to take a look at getting this chemical out of the lining in cans."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is under fire after determining last month in a draft report that BPA was safe for food storage. On Thursday, the Washington Post published an editorial arguing the FDA's final recommendation, expected this month, could be "seen as less than fully independent."

5 Ways to Keep Bisphenol A, or BPA, Out of Your Food

US News and World Report: "Here are some good rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA."

1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars. Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA because the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from the lining of the can. Think beyond plain tomato sauce to any canned pasta—like ravioli and those fun-looking kids' meals.

2. Consume frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned. In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh and frozen produce usually have more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning. Eden Foods does offer canned beans that are BPA-free.

3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles. Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA. You don't need to worry, though, about disposable plastic water bottles. Most don't contain bisphenol A, and those that do are usually marked on the bottom with a number 7 recycling code.

4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid. A separate assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.

5. Think in terms of moderation. You don't need to avoid all canned foods. Just consult the chart below and follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are high in BPA. Click here for the full report on canned foods.

3 States Move to Phase Out Bisphenol A

thedailygreen.com: "The Attorneys General of three states -- Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey -- have asked baby bottle manufacturers to voluntarily stop using plastics made with Bisphenol-A, a chemical that has been linked to a range of health problems due to its similarity to the female hormone estrogen"

Bisphenol-A May Disrupt Cancer Treatment

thedailygreen.com: "The new University of Cincinnati study says that Bisphenol-A may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments. Bisphenol-A seems to bolster proteins that protect cancer cells, according to the research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Bisphenol-A is not only similar to estrogen, but to a cancer-promoting compound called diethylstilbestrol (DES). DES makes cancer cells proliferate, but Bisphenol-A seems to protect cells from chemical attack, as does estrogen.

The researchers did the laboratory work on breast cancer cells."

University of Cincinatti PR

Study links Bisphenol A to heart disease, diabetes

CTV.ca : "A recent study by CTV News and the Globe and Mail found that BPA leached out of cans that were heated to temperatures similar to those used during the sterilization process.

In the wake of that research, Federal Health Minister Tony Clement announced that Canada would be the first country to label BPA a dangerous substance and would ban the use of BPA in baby bottles."

Chemical in food tins doubles the risk of heart disease and diabetes

Telegraph: "A chemical found in tin food cans and plastic drinks bottles can more than double the chance of developing heart disease and diabetes, a new study suggests."

Bisphenol-A in canned foods

Seattle Post Intelligencer: "Somehow it had escaped me, until seeing a random note today in Food and Wine, that the controversial chemical is also in most canned goods. (It's used in the lining of most cans.)"

Donation raises questions for head of FDA’s bisphenol A panel

JS Online:  "A retired medical supply manufacturer who considers bisphenol A to be “perfectly safe” gave $5 million to the research center of Martin Philbert, chairman of the Food and Drug Association panel about to make a pivotal ruling on the chemical’s safety."

Philbert's committee is expected to release its opinion this month. It will advise the FDA on whether to accept, reject or amend a draft released by the agency in September. That draft found that products made with bisphenol A are safe for food storage.

The decision of Philbert's committee is being watched carefully by chemical-makers and is expected to have huge implications on the regulation and sale of the chemical in items such as baby bottles, reusable food containers and plastic wraps.

New studies raise concerns over critical health risks from

Yahoo! India News: "'For the first time a series of articles will appear together that identify that billions of kilograms of a number of chemicals used in the manufacture of different types of plastic can leach out of plastic products and cause harm to the brain and reproductive system when exposure occurs during fetal life or prior to weaning,' emphasized Dr. Frederick vom Saal, Guest Editor of the 'Plastic World'.

The studies have been published in a special section in the October 2008 issue of Environmental Research, 'A Plastic World.'"

BPA and canned tomatoes

Food Chronicles: "I have already switched to stainless steel water bottles, and am now looking at reducing exposure to the liner of cans. One of the canned items I used most are tomatoes. And …. tomatoes are now in season. So, I should get out my very dusty canning kit and cookbook, right? WAIT! There is an easy alternative. I didn’t know it, but you can just freeze tomatoes."