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.