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.