New research puts FDA under pressure over BPA

reachingretire: "The results of a immature study which has linked a chemical commonly used to announce plastic containers, to human diseases, is adding to an already fiery debate wide he safety of such products.

The study has found a ’significant relationship between urine concentrations of the environmental estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities’.

This is the first time BPA has been shown to directly cause harm to humans and until now, environmental and consumer activists questioning the safety of the chemical’s use have only had ammunition for their argument from research showing BPA exposure harmed laboratory animals.

The British researchers analysed urine and blood samples from 1,455 American adults aged 18 to 74 who were representative of the general population and they found that the 25% with the highest levels of bisphenol A in their bodies were more than twice as likely to have heart disease and, or diabetes compared to the 25% with the lowest levels.

The researchers say this is the first ever study that has been on the general population and their findings are in line with what has been found in animal models - but add that the design of the study did not allow for anyone to conclude BPA causes heart disease and diabetes."

The researchers will present their findings to the FDA this week say session it is too early to identify a mechanism through which the chemical may be doing harm.

The researchers also caution that their findings are preliminary and more work is needed to determine if the chemical actually is a direct cause of disease.

The researchers say BPA is one of the world’s most widely produced and used chemicals.

vom Saal says any government action to reduce exposure may offer an effective intervention for improving health and reducing the burden of some of the most consequential human health problems and would be good news.

The research is published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Risk Assessment of Bisphenol a Migrated from Canned Foods in Korea - Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: "Exposure and risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) was conducted on consumption of canned foods in Korean adults. Sixty-one canned food items with different brands purchased from retail outlets in markets were analyzed for BPA concentration by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence detection. Limits of detection (LOD) were 3 μg/kg for solid and 2 μg/kg for liquid foods"

Evidence indicates that the levels of BPA levels in canned foods are not likely to constitute a safety concern for consumers in Korea.

Consumers Should Worry About BPA Says NIH Director | General News

Living the Science: "In interviews and testimony to congress last week, Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, said that consumers should 'absolutely' be worried about bisphenol A (BPA) and its potential effects on human health.

In her statements to congress and in interviews with news organizations like the Milwaukee Sentinal last week, Birbaum also compared BPA to lead and mercury and said about BPA, 'It's simple enough to avoid, so, why not avoid a problem?'"

Bisphenol A becomes test of leadership for FDA

Food navigator USA: "The straight-talking Commissioner vowed to sort out the thorny question of BPA in weeks not months – garnering almost universal praise that here at last was somebody who not only understood the importance of the issue but was prepared to bang some heads together to solve the problem. It was a bold declaration designed to challenge the perception of a food safety body too readily influenced by the industries it was charged with regulating.

And in a world where perception can be reality, it could also explain why BPA has so far failed to trigger the same level of anxiety in Europe. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) certainly has its critics but few would dispute the organisation is impartial and not afraid to ruffle industry feathers if that is where the evidence leads. While the FDA has wrestled with its lack of credibility, EFSA has been able to calmly assert that it sees no need to review its stance on BPA. It has provided a clear and consistent position that inspires consumer confidence and stability for industry."

Plastics component 'affects intestine'

Global Plastic Industry News Portal: "The French study focuses on the first organ to come in contact with the substance, the intestine.

The researchers orally administered doses of BPA to the rats that were equivalent to about 10 times less than the daily amount considered safe for humans, a statement from the Toulouse institute said.

They saw that BPA reduced the permeability of the instentinal lining through which water and essential minerals enter the body, it said.

They also found that newborn rats exposed to BPA in the uterus and during feeding have a higher risk of developing severe intestinal inflammation in adulthood.

The study 'shows the very high sensitivity on the intestine of Bisphenol A and opens news avenues for research' including to define new acceptable thresholds of the substance for humans, the institute said."

National Institute of Agronomic Research researchers in Toulouse found the digestive tract of rats react negatively to even low doses of the chemical also called BPA, the Proceedings of the National Academy Sciences journal reported.

Law To Ban BPA In Children's Products Announced By US Senators

Medical News Today: "Talking about the BPA-Free Kids Act on Sunday, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said there have been enough warning signs about the health risks of BPA and yet:

'We have to worry because manufacturers are still using this chemical widely, and it's getting into our foods,' Schumer told the press."

The BPA-Free Kids Act will make it illegal to make and sell infant and toddler beverage containers containing BPA. It will also require that any children's food or beverage container that is "composed in whole or in part be treated as a banned hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act".

Any violations of the BPA-Free Kids Act, including failure to test, certify and label products as required by the Act, will be liable to criminal and civil prosecutions.

The risk of BPA in glass jars in additon to canned food

Simplyboulder.com: "The fact that BPA could be transferred into ingredients before the final product is manufactured made me think of something else. A lot of ingredients such as fruit juices, vinegar, and olive oil are stored in plastic drums or totes before being manufactured into the final product. This made me wonder if these drums contain BPA and could contaminate our ingredients at Simply Boulder Culinary Sauces. I looked into this and luckily the plastic drums we use are made with HDPE which doesn’t contain BPA."

Migration of Bisphenol A from Can Coatings to Liquid Infant Formu...

IngentaConnect.: "To investigate the effect of storage time on BPA migration from can coatings to liquid infant formula at room temperature, samples of 21 canned liquid infant formula products from different cans but the same lot as those analyzed for BPA previously were analyzed for BPA again after storage at room temperature for 10 months. Additional migration of BPA from can coatings to liquid formula during the 10-month storage period at room temperature was observed for 9 of the 21 products, with increases in BPA levels ranging from 29.8 to 110%"

Significant differences between the 2007 and 2008 results (P = 0.026) were observed for only one brand of product, which had the lowest BPA levels in the 2007 survey. The BPA levels in the milk-based formula products analyzed in 2008 (mean, 6.8 ng/g) were significantly higher (P = 0.00023) than those in the milk-based formula products analyzed in 2007 (mean, 5.0 ng/g), whereas the differences in BPA levels between the soya-based formula products analyzed in 2008 (mean, 5.3 ng/g) and those analyzed in 2007 (mean, 5.8 ng/g) were not significant (P = 0.097). No obvious correlation between the product expiration date and the level of BPA migration from can coatings was observed.

Document Type: Research article

UN agencies to hold bisphenol A safety summit

UN agencies to hold bisphenol A safety summit: "Two United Nations bodies are to convene an international meeting on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging over growing anxiety of the chemical’s possible threat to human health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said the meeting, to be held in Canada in October 2010, was being organised in response to the general uncertainty over the safety of BPA. They pin-pointed the misgivings over a raft of possible adverse human health effects from the chemical on reproduction, the nervous system and on behavioural development, as well as the relatively higher exposure of very young children compared with adults."

Fact or Fiction: Are Canned Foods Slowly ... Killing Us?

Healthy Living on Shine: "But really? How concerned should we be about this warning? I asked Melina Jampolis, M.D., a doctor who specializes in nutrition and healthy eating, and who also happens to be a health expert along with Sanjay Gupta for CNN. Here's what she had to say:

'The data on bisphenol A and levels that are toxic in adult humans is not conclusive so until it is, I think the much bigger problem is the 66 percent of Americans who are overweight or obese, and the fact that the majority of them are not eating fruits and especially vegetables everyday so I would hate to discourage people from eating an inexpensive and readily available year-round source of vegetables like canned tomatoes,' she says. 'Because of the bisphenol A potential, I would not feed them daily to a baby or pregnant of nursing women but using them in a homemade turkey chili or health vegetable soup once a week should really not be a problem in my opinion.'"

Canned tomatoes are KILLERS!!

Mike Rowse: "Not only will you die if hit repeatedly about the head with a large can of tomatoes simply eating them could kill you. A high falutin’ PhD type from MO of all places says the lining of the tomato cans contains bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that not only can make you a woman but can cause heart disease, diabetes and obesity (but only if you eat too many cans). Why not avoid other foods packaged in cans? Good question Sparky. The acidity of tomatoes causes the BPA to leach into the food. So the solution, make your own tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce from home grown tomatoes or use tomatoes in glass jars. Or steal them from your neighbors garden. This will be a good skill to have developed since you’ll need it after Obama causes society to collapse."

Muir Glen Replies to Consumer Letter About BPA: "We Don't Care"

La Vida Locavore: "Thank you for contacting Muir Glen regarding bisphenol A in food packaging. Bisphenol A is a critical component of protective coatings used with metal food packaging and provides important quality and safety features for canned foods."

Scientific and government bodies worldwide have examined the scientific evidence and consistently have reached the conclusion that BPA is not a risk to human health. Recent examples include comprehensive risk assessments in Japan and Europe and a review by an independent panel of experts organized by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. The can coatings used in Muir Glen packaging comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for use in food contact applications. These coatings have long played an essential part in food preservation, helping to maintain wholesomeness, nutritional value, and product quality.

We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that all of the food ingredients and packaging materials we use are fully in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements and meet our high quality standards.

We will continue to monitor this situation. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us. Your questions and comments are always welcome. For more information on the safety of metal food containers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration press office may be contacted at (301) 430-2335.

Sincerely,

Brent Taylor

STATS: Top US EPA scientist rejects Consumer Reports’ BPA claim

STATS: "Magazine’s criticism of latest EPA study showing no adverse effects from BPA recycles “ad-hominem attack” repeatedly shown to be “without scientific merit,” says EPA’s Senior Reproductive Toxicologist.

Several days before Consumer Reports issued its dire warning about the presence of the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) in canned foods, a major study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), published in one of the leading peer-reviewed toxicology journals, Toxicological Sciences, concluded that exposure to BPA was not associated with many of the adverse effects the magazine alleged."

STATS: Don’t worry about BPA in cans, says top European scientist

STATS: "As scientific criticism mounts, Consumer Reports refuses to release details of how its BPA study was done or the name of the outside lab it used.

When Wolfgang Dekant saw the Consumer Reports study on BPA exposure and heard that the magazine was advising people to avoid food from cans, he was incredulous. None of the magazine’s claims were supported by international risk assessments of the chemical – including the one he co-authored for the European Union.

Dr. Dekant, who is Professor of Toxicology at the University of Wurzburg, told STATS by email that there is no need for people to stop eating food from cans. He added that Consumer Reports’ account of the scientific research on BPA was “highly biased.”

The amount of BPA likely to be ingested from canned food is well below the safety limits set by the European Union, he said."

Are You Eating BPA? Dangerous Toxin Found In Canned Food

Your Organic Gardening Blog: "Imagine the dangers of canned food like this when they’re fed to children who are even more sensitive to the effects of bisphenol-A.

The current US federal guidelines put the daily upper limit of safe exposure at 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight.

However, this limit is based on studies from the 1980s. These studies do not take into account the findings of more recent animal and laboratory research, which have found that far lower doses of BPA may still pose serious health risks."

UK experts call for bisphenol A ban

Food Quality news.com: "A raft of experts and charities have today urged the UK Government to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles because of “compelling scientific evidence” linking it to cancer and other chronic conditions.

Launching the campaign, Breast Cancer UK said the weight of research raised clear concerns about BPA. The call has been backed by a number of scientists and charities, including the NCT (formerly National Childbirth Trust), the Cancer Prevention and Education Society and CHEM Trust."

However, this is the first major campaign in the UK to outlaw BPA. As part of this drive, a group of scientists from the Universities of Stirling, Ulster, London, Plymouth, and Reading have written to Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Health, urging the Government “to adopt a standpoint consistent with the approach taken by other Governments who have ended the use of BPA in food contact products marketed at children”.

Professor Vyvyan Howard, of the Biomedical Sciences Research Institute at Ulster University, said: "As a medically qualified pathologist and parent to an 8-month-old baby boy, I feel that it is essential for the Government to heed our call for precautionary measures to limit exposure of BPA to very young children. Babies in their first year have not fully developed the ability to clear BPA from their bodies as quickly as adults."

But UK scientific opinion is divided on the issue. Professor Richard Sharpe, from the Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit at the University of Edinburgh, said: "There is no direct evidence that links bisphenol A exposure in women, or in animal studies, to the development of breast cancer.”

Breast Cancer UK also presented the results of a YouGov survey that found 79 per cent of the respondents either strongly agreed (50%) or agreed (29%) “it is important that the UK Government acts in a precautionary way when it comes to protecting babies and very young children from BPA”. Some 61 per cent believed the UK Government should “act to end the use of BPA in baby bottles” while just 10 per cent thought the Government “should follow the current FSA guidelines and leave things as they are”.

Why Canned Soups Can Be Dangerous to Your Health

Fit Food Coach's Blog: "It’s important to realize that you have a CHOICE, and by exercising it, you can influence industry to do the right thing.

For example, you can avoid canned foods entirely and stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, or switch over to brands that use glass containers. Choosing fresh foods is clearly your best option — ideally organic (to avoid exposure to pesticides), and grown locally (to reduce environmental impact and help your local economy).

In addition, Change.org has started a petition asking Campbell’s to live up to its new “nourishing people’s lives everywhere, every day” slogan, and be a leader of the industry move away from the use of BPA laden packaging."

Study Reaffirms Bisphenol-A Risks

Trendcetera Magazine: "Breast Cancer UK is launching a national campaign this month urging for a ban on the use of BPA in baby bottles and for better labeling on other products.

According to Consumer Reports, the U.S. cap on safe daily exposure is 50 micrograms but that number is reportedly based on studies from the 1980s."

Are Canned Tomatoes Bad to Eat?

Free Fat Loss Resources: "It can be quite surprising to be consuming and eating foods that you think are healthy for you, but be unaware that they are actually quite detrimental to the better of your health.

It has always been contraversial to consume or store foods in tin cans, but with this retrospect the worst food that can be eaten out of a can are tomatoes. This attribute has been verified through Prevention Magazine. Studies have indicated that any tomatoes that are stored in a can should not be eaten, and any endocrinologist can vouch for this on their reputation.

Furthermore, the main component of the tomatoes- the acidity is what makes the chemical in the tin (bisphenol-A) or BPH permeate to the food. It has been linked to sperm suppression in male animals, and chromosomal damage to female eggs. Most tin cans that have stored can tomatoes, consist of about 50 mcg of the toxic BPH. This is quite enough to impact an adult let alone a smaller youth.

You can circumvent this malady by simply purchasing tomatoes that are stored in glass containers, or even some grocery retailers supply tomatoes in boxes. It is all in the sake of optimum health- and it is certain that you will no longer think of canned tomatoes in the same light. This you are better off be aware of!"

US study finds no significant effects related to low dose BPA exposures

Chemical Watch: "In the USA, a study funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded that low dose maternal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has no significant effects on key developmental end-points of laboratory rats.

The study, conducted by the EPA’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and North Carolina State University, looked for endocrine effects such as changes to sexual behaviour, puberty, fertility and the anatomy of female rats and compared exposures in utero and through lactation of ethinyl estradiol – an oral contraceptive – and BPA."

The researchers noted that many chemicals released into the environment display estrogenic activity including ethinyl estradiol and BPA and that the US National Toxicology Program has rated the potential effects of low doses of BPA on behaviour and the central nervous system as an area of “some concern”. The current study was designed to determine the effects of maternal exposure to relatively low oral doses of the two substances.

For the end points studied, the report recorded no effects related to BPA exposure, while exposure to ethinyl estradiol produced permanent adverse effects. The report notes these conclusions are consistent with other “robust, well designed, properly analyzed multigenerational studies”.

In future studies the researchers plan to assess other endocrine effects, such as impacts on the estrous cycle and ovarian function, and to more thoroughly investigate the substances’ dose response relationship.

The American Chemistry Council commented: "This EPA-funded, well-conducted study is a significant development in better understanding the safety of BPA." The study has been published in Toxicological Sciences.

At the same time, an investigation by Consumer Reports magazine has discovered levels of BPA in a wide range of food cans despite manufacturers claiming their products to be BPA-free. The survey has prompted health campaign group the Breast Cancer Fund to demand regulation of the chemical.

Janet Nudelman, program and policy director at the Breast Cancer Fund said: "The report results are sobering, and confirm what we already know: Americans are exposed to BPA every day through canned foods. A synthetic estrogen linked to breast cancer should not be in our food, period. It’s well past time to ban BPA from food and beverage containers.”

Death of the Can?

Ian Blair Hamilton's HealtheMail: "“I’m not surprised at the findings,” said Michael Potter, president of Eden Foods, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. “One of the ingredients [in Eden’s Baked Beans] is tomatoes. When we use canned tomatoes that our organic grower packs for us, a BPA-containing lining is in the can. All canned tomatoes come in BPA-containing cans. However, beans are a low-acid food, so we can use BPA-free cans for them.”According to the company website, Eden Foods currently packs organic beans in BPA-free steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel lining. These BPA-free cans cost the company 14 percent more than BPA-containing cans, said Potter."

Potter noted that no alternative currently exists to replace BPA-containing cans for high-acid foods. “We have been working with the Ball Corp. for two years, trying to get them to develop and have available a BPA-free can lining for high-acid foods,” said Potter. In the meantime, Potter plans to investigate whether Eden Foods could pack baked beans with fresh tomatoes, which he said would keep BPA out of the final product.Although Annie’s would not comment on the Consumer Reports’findings because they had not yet seen the tests, the company, like Eden, is actively looking for BPA alternatives. “The only Annie’s products that use BPA are our canned Pasta Meals, such as Cheesy Ravioli, All Stars, BernieO’s, Arthur Loops and P’sghetti Loops,” said Aimee Sands, marketing director for Napa, Calif.-based Annie’s.

“At this time, the FDA has not approved a BPA-free can for use with our type of tomato-based products. The BPA is needed in the lining of the cans to prevent the acidic tomato sauce and pasta from reacting with and leaching the metal in the cans.”

Metal Packaging Alliance chair says BPA unfairly maligned by Consumer Reports

Metal Packaging Alliance chair says BPA unfairly maligned by Consumer Reports | Operations | Pizza Marketplace: "Operators buying bulk cans of food supplies need not be alarmed by Consumer Reports' data on measurable levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in canned foods, according to the North American Metal Packaging Alliance. The values seen in the recently released study, measured in parts per billion, were below the lowest regulatory threshold of concern set by government scientists and do not pose a health risk to consumers of all ages, NAMPA said."

Industry reacts to Consumer Reports' BPA report

Consumer Reports: "The groups took exception to some parts of the report that found nearly all of the 19 name-brand canned foods we tested contained this chemical, which is used in the linings of most food and beverage cans. They did not dispute the test findings of the BPA levels we measured in canned food. Rather, the discussion focused on our risk assessment of the effects of BPA, which was based on the scientific literature that has become available over the past 20 years.

Here’s a sampling of those reactions, along with a more detailed discussion of some of the research involved in the debate:

1. The American Chemistry Council issued a press release contending that our experts’ recommendations, which include calling for a ban on the use of BPA in all materials that come in contact with food, is “inconsistent with the conclusions of expert regulatory bodies worldwide, all of which have confirmed that BPA exposure levels are low and well within safety standards.”

That is exactly the issue. As our story makes clear, food safety experts at Consumers Union believe federal regulatory guidelines—which are the same as those set by the European Food Safety Authority—are outdated and fail to adequately protect consumers."

Industry backs bisphenol A safety in can linings

Food production daily: "The use of bisphenol A (BPA) in can linings is both safe and vital for food protection, a host of industry bodies and companies have said in rejecting the conclusions of a report calling for a ban on the chemical.

The North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA), the American Chemistry Council (ACC), as well as food giants such as Del Monte, Campbell and General Mills have dismissed a study by the US-based Consumer Union that claimed potentially hazardous levels of BPA were leaching into foods from the epoxy linings of cans.

Regulatory approval

All the groups and firms, including Del Monte Foods, emphasised that BPA has been confirmed as safe for use in food contact materials by the world’s major regulatory agencies – the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) among them. Both EFSA and the UK Food Standards Agency told FoodProductionDaily.com in June 2009 there were no plans to re-examine their position on BPA.

Nonetheless, the metal packing industry currently is looking for alternatives to BPA – although these are still some years from coming to market, said Campbell."

Consumer group finds elevated BPA levels in range of foods

LiveJournal: "A consumer advocacy group's analysis of canned goods has found measurable levels of the chemical additive bisphenol A, or BPA, across a range of foods, including some that were labeled 'BPA free.'

Children eating multiple servings of some of the tested food could get doses of BPA 'near levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies,' according to the survey released Monday by Consumers Union, a nonprofit organization that publishes Consumer Reports.

The findings bolster the case for banning BPA from use in materials that come in contact with food and beverages -- such as can linings, baby bottles and sippy cups -- the group said in a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

An FDA spokesman had no immediate comment but noted that a review of existing evidence about BPA's health effects was nearly completed and that Hamburg would 'make a decision how to proceed' by the end of the month."

Concerns about canned foods

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Consumer Reports’ latest tests of canned foods, including soups, juice, tuna and green beans, have found that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods tested contain some of the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA).

BPA, which has been used for years in clear plastic bottles and food-can liners, has been restricted in Canada and some U.S. states and municipalities because of potential health effects. The Food and Drug Administration will soon decide what it considers a safe level of exposure to the chemical, which some studies have linked to reproductive abnormalities and a heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes and heart disease. The debate revolves around just what is a safe level of the chemical to ingest and whether it should be in contact with food.

CR’s tests convey a snapshot of the marketplace and do not provide a general conclusion about BPA levels in any particular brand or type of product tested. Levels in the same product purchased at different places or in other brands of similar foods might differ from CR’s test results. CR tested three different samples of each canned item for BPA and found:"

Tests Find Bisphenol A in Canned Goods

Citizens Report: "Almost all of 19 name-brand canned foods contain significant levels of Bisphenol A (BPA), according to Consumer Reports’ latest tests. BPA has been linked to a heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, heart disease and reproductive abnormalities and has been restricted in the United States and Canada.

Food-safety scientists at Consumer Reports recommended limiting daily exposure of BPA to one-thousandth of the current federal guidelines (50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight). In some cases, choosing plastic containers or bags as opposed to metal cans might limit exposure to BPA.

Although average amounts in the tested canned foods varied, Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans Blue Lake had the highest levels of BPA for a single sample. The scientists advised consumers to choose fresh food whenever possible, consider alternatives to canned food, and use glass containers when heating food in the microwave."

BPA Is In Your Canned Food

Eat. Drink. Better.: "Knowing its effects on the human body, consumers have tried to eliminate their exposure to it by getting rid of lined aluminum water bottles, plastic tupperware, and plastic baby bottles. But BPA lurks in other places as well, in canned foods. Studies by the Environmental Working Group (study results here) show that significant amounts of BPA are in canned vegetables and being absorbed into the human body.

There are some companies that don’t use BPA to line their cans. You can check out this website by Organic Grace for a list of various companies, and whether or not they use BPA to line the cans of their products. Some surprising names are on the list, companies like Amy’s, Muir Glen, and Trader Joe’s still use BPA liners in some of their canned foods."

7 Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips

Health Topics: "The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. 'You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,' says vom Saal. 'I won't go near canned tomatoes.'"

Why Canned Soups Can Be Dangerous to Your Health

Healthy Empowerment: "The food processing world is reeling right now one day after a shocking new series of tests released by Consumer Reports revealed that many leading brands of canned foods contain Bisphenol A (BPA)—a toxic chemical linked to health risks including reproductive abnormalities, neurological effects, heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, heart disease and other serious health problems.

BPA is used in the lining of cans and the toxin leaches from the lining into the food. According to Consumer Reports just a couple of servings of canned food can exceed scientific limits on daily exposure for children."

Erectyle Dysfunction and Male Sexual Problem caused by BPA

Homeopathy Remedies: "research from The Kaiser Permanente publish in the Journal Human Reproduction, The men working in facilities with chemical BPA exposure had four times the Risk of Erectile Dysfunction and seven times more Risk of Difficulties with Ejaculation than their counterparts who weren’t regularly exposed to BPA. They also had Lowered Sexual Desire dramatically and overall less satisfaction with their sex life than men without the chemical exposure."

The research followed by 230 chinese men who were exposed to BPA in their workplace for five years and compared them to 404 others worker in a factory where no BPA exposure.

Dr. Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland, California, also pointed out other disturbing implications of the new study:

BPA may have health effects that go far beyond male sexual problems like Erectile Dysfunciton (ED). In fact, male sexual problems could prove to be early indicators of BPA-related effects on the body that are more difficult to study, such as cancer or metabolic diseases.

BPA or Bisphenol-A is a chemical compound containing two phenol functional group, belonging to the phenol class of aromatic organic compounds.

Bhispenol-A was first synthesized by AP. Dianin in 1891.

The testifying of FDA Associate Commissioner for Science Norris Alderson before the Senate insisted that products made with bisphenol A (BPA) are SAFE!, even though a number of studies have implicated it as a carcinogen and hormonic mimic.

New EPA Rodent Study Finds No Low-Dose BPA Effects on Reproductive Function

PR Newsire: "'This new rodent study, funded and conducted by EPA, finds that low-dose exposures of bisphenol A (BPA) showed no effects on the range of reproductive functions and behavioral activities measured. Well-conducted, peer-reviewed studies such as this provide the basis for reasoned government assessments and regulatory decisions."

"Eleven regulatory agencies from around the world have concluded that science supports the safety of BPA for people of all ages in its current uses. The results of this new study provide further strong support for those conclusions. Plastics made with BPA contribute to the safety and convenience of everyday life because of their durability, clarity and shatter-resistance. Can liners made with BPA are essential components to protecting the safety of packaged foods and preserving products from spoilage and contamination.

"These areas of scientific interest were identified as needing further research in a 2008 report on BPA from the National Toxicology Program. This EPA-funded, well-conducted study is a significant development in better understanding the safety of BPA. Sound scientific review must be the foundation of decisions concerning the government's current and future regulatory process, as chemical management reform is considered."

New Bisphenol a Study Has Many Limitations, but No Clear Conclusions

PR Newsire: "The American Chemistry Council (ACC) offers the following comments in response to queries regarding a study published on-line today in Environmental Health Perspectives and titled 'Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and Early Childhood Behavior.' Quotes from the following analysis of the study may be attributed to Steven G. Hentges, Ph.D. of the ACC's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group."

"Inherent in the design of this small-scale study is the inability to establish cause-effect relationships. The study can only evaluate parameters measured in the study for statistical associations, which may be neither real nor meaningful. The limited reliability of the associations reported in this study is characterized by the authors in their concluding paragraph: 'The reported associations and interactions...should be viewed cautiously since these results could be biased from exposure misspecification or residual confounding.'

Toxic BPA Contamination - Groups Support Consumers Union Call for FDA Protection From BPA in Canned Food

Reuters: "In response to Consumer Reports' new report on contamination of canned food products with the synthetic sex hormone bisphenol A (BPA), the Breast Cancer Fund, Clean Water Action, Clean New York, Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Oregon Toxics Alliance and other environmental health advocates support Consumers Union's call for FDA to immediately act to protect consumers from BPA.

BPA is linked to neurological, endocrine and reproductive health effects, breast cancer and other serious health problems. 'Consumer Reports' results are sobering, and confirm what we already know: Americans are exposed to toxic BPA every day through canned food,' said Janet

Nudelman at the Breast Cancer Fund. 'A synthetic estrogen linked to breast
cancer should not be in our food, period. It's well past time to ban BPA from
food and beverage containers.'

Bobbi Chase Wilding of Clean New York says, 'Consumers should not have to read scientific journals to determine what is safe when shopping for their families. FDA needs to step up and step in.'"

Consumer Reports Testing Confirms Expose of Consumers to Toxic BPA

TopNews United States: "An investigation and test series carried out by the Consumer Reports has confirmed the fears that customers who consume canned food are constantly being exposed to a toxic chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA). The chemical, which is used to coat the insides of cans which contain food, is a potential health hazard and has been linked to various poor health outcomes like cardiac diseases and diabetes."

According to Consumer Reports, "The highest levels of BPA were found in the canned green beans and canned soup". Progresso Vegetable Soup, Campbell's Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup, Canned Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans Blue Lake, among others, have been recorded as having the highest BPA levels.

The testing was carried out by Consumer Reports with the help of external laboratories. The results posted confirmed that while there was some amount of BPA content in all canned foods, there were some which contained this toxic in much higher amounts than is safe, amounts which were well over the maximum recommended daily exposure.

In the light of the new findings, Consumer Reports and worried customers are now demanding an FDA investigation into the matter. Currently, the Congress is pondering over a legislation that would ban the use of BPA in coating of containers altogether.

Consumer Reports online report

See also

See also

Video news report abc

This from Malaysia

NAMPA Response (STATS article)

New $30m study into the safety of BPA

Foodproductiondaily: "Opening yet another chapter in the long running saga about the safety of Bisphenol A (BPA), the US National Institutes of Health is to launch a new $30m study into the safety of the chemical used in metal cans linings, many plastics bottles and sipper cups.

The funds, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be spent over two-years on human and animal studies to remedy the research gaps identified by expert scientific panels.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has pledged to release its own assessment of BPA's safety by the end of next month. Until then it maintains that the current guidelines for the use of BPA are sufficient and that the chemical is safe when used in accordance with existing regulations.

But the Environmental Working Group (EWG) believes the FDA already has enough evidence to restrict the exposure of pregnant women and children to BPA.

EWG scientist, Anila Jacob told USA Today: “We can always learn more about BPA, but we have scores of studies showing that low-dose exposure can increase risks."

Meanwhile, in a statement published on the website of The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), John Doull, Professor of Toxicology, University of Kansas Medical Center, warned that banning BPA devalues science.

Appropriate regulations

“Banning bisphenol A…ignores our proven ability to use science, experience and judgment to establish appropriate regulations for all chemicals including bisphenol A,” he wrote.

“It is clear from the extensive scientific data on bisphenol A that an outright ban cannot be justified from a public health point of view. Our time-tested methods for human health risk assessment permit our regulatory agencies to establish rigorous limits on exposure that provide a wide margin of safety,” added Doull.

It will study low-dose exposures to BPA and effects on behavior, obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers. Researchers will also question whether the effects of BPA exposure can be passed from parents to their children."

Is it safe to eat fish packaged in cans, like salmon and sardines?

Ask George:: "Some of the studies showed contamination of the fish with BPA, and some did not. But to err on the safe side, we recommend that you avoid purchasing either canned salmon or canned sardines in vinyl-lined cans that contain BPA. We recommend contacting the manufacturers of these products to find out which ones are using BPA-free cans. If you cannot find BPA-free cans, you may want to consider purchasing the fish in another (non-canned) form."

BPA found harmful to consumers

University Chronicle - BPA found harmful to consumers: "The Harvard study was one of the first to use humans as test subjects by testing the content of BPA in the urine of students.

Balsy said that most studies do not use human subjects and use pregnant rats instead.
Balsy said that there is going to be another study, this time funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment act, that plans to give a broader picture on the impacts of BPA on humans.

The study has not started yet, but has obtained the money and is currently seeking volunteers.

Balsy said that the best way to avoid the plastics that contain BPA is to use stainless steel and glass bottles. He said he would recommend a precautionary stance."

New Bisphenol a Study Has Many Limitations, but No Clear Conclusions

The America: "The American Chemistry Council (ACC) offers the following comments in response to queries regarding a study published on-line today in Environmental Health Perspectives and titled 'Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and Early Childhood Behavior.' Quotes from the following analysis of the study may be attributed to Steven G. Hentges, Ph.D. of the ACC's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group.

'ACC and its member companies have long-supported research to advance scientific understanding about chemicals and promote public health. To achieve these goals, that research should be based on sound scientific principles so as to be meaningful to human health. There are significant limitations in the study design, highlighted by the authors themselves, which limit the utility of the study."

EPA director backs tougher regulation of chemicals

JSOnline: "The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first human study examining the association of BPA with behavioral problems. The authors found that 2-year-old girls who were exposed to BPA early in their fetal development showed behaviors more typical of boys, including hyperactivity and aggression.

The American Chemistry Council criticized the study as limited.

'Inherent in the design of this small-scale study is the inability to establish cause-effect relationships,' said Steven Hentges, a director at the council. 'The study can only evaluate parameters measured in the study for statistical associations, which may be neither real nor meaningful.'

At the Washington gathering, Jackson repeated her six principles for toxic chemical reform that she announced last week in San Francisco, which include more aggressive testing before chemicals come on the market and more authority for the EPA to compel chemical-makers to comply with regulations."

BPA linked to aggressive behavior in young girls, research suggests

ContraCostaTimes.com: "Pre-birth exposure to a chemical widely used in plastics appears to be linked to more aggressive behavior in little girls, according to research published Tuesday by a scientist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

The findings, which are preliminary and call for more study, are the first to connect behavior problems in humans with the chemical bisphenol A, which is a key component of plastic bottles, the liners inside canned goods and medical devices.

The chemical leaches from plastic and is detectable at some level in nearly everyone's system. Scientists began to raise concerns about BPA because of its tendency to mimic estrogen — a hormone that plays a crucial role in establishing the sex differences in the brains of developing fetuses."

Germany backs bisphenol A in baby bottles

Foodproductiondaily: "Germany’s risk watchdog has become the latest official body to declare that bisphenol A (BPA) is safe for “normal” use in baby bottles and should not be banned.
The BfR, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, said it arrived at its conclusions after a review of the available scientific studies on the issue.

“Following careful examination of all studies, in particular the studies in the low dose range of bisphenol A, BfR comes to the conclusion in its scientific assessment that the normal use of polycarbonate bottles does not lead to a health risk from bisphenol A for infants and small children,” said the body in a statement."

FDA Slammed Over Pace Of BPA Study

Newsinferno: "JSOnline reported that millions of dollars are being unnecessarily dumped into more studies into the effects of BPA; given that an astounding number of studies—over 900—have been conducted and confirm the negative risks, the 33 BPA experts from the scientific community, find the multi-million dollar study redundant.

Most of the scientists hail from universities and recently sent a letter to Margaret Hamburg, the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with accusations that the agency is dragging on the issue and endangering consumer health, said JSOnline."

BPA Will Likely Be On Washington State List Of Toxins

news inferno: "According to officials in Washington State, a hiring freeze and budget cuts were blamed, as was the challenge in whittling down a list of thousands to those 50 most harmful to children, said the AP. “It’s been quite a bit harder than we anticipated,” said Carol Kraege, the state’s toxics policy coordinator. “We are late, and we’re doing as much as we can do,” quoted the AP. Maine, Connecticut, and Minnesota have put forth similar legislation, said the AP.

Representative Mary Lou Dickerson (Democrat-Seattle), lead sponsor of the law in Washington State, said that bisphenol A—BPA—will likely be one of the toxins named, reported the AP. Mercury will also probably make the list; however, because they are federally regulate, lead and phthalates will not, pointed out the AP."

Effort to ban BPA in California fails

The Mommy Files: "California State Senator Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica) was convinced by the research indicating that BPA is a harmful substance, and in February she introduced a bill (SB 797) to ban it from feeding products designed for children under 3 years old, starting in 2011. The bill passed the Senate in June. It was favored by the Assembly 35-32, but last week it did not garner the 41 votes necessary to clear the Assembly. The bill will be reconsidered in 2010."

Members of the Assembly who voted no on the bill point to California's Green Chemistry Initiative, a bipartisan agreement intended to create a process to phase out chemicals known to cause harm. They believe the BPA ban tried to short-circuit the process that legislators agreed to follow.

"I would like to see the process that we all agreed upon to play out," Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Riverside) says. "Simply because another country says it doesn't like this chemical doesn't mean we should feel obligated to ban it too. We created the Green Chemistry initiative to take politics out of this and to really look at the science. If there is a need for further scientific review of BPA in California, the open and transparent process under the initiative will provide what is needed to protect the health of all Californians."

Group to ask for ban on chemical in plastics

post-gazette.com: "The Rachel Carson Homestead Association today will ask Pittsburgh and Allegheny County leaders to support a ban on the synthetic chemical bisphenol-A found in plastic children's products like baby bottles, sippy cups, canned foods and drinks and some toys.

The ban would apply to all products that contain the endocrine-disrupting chemical commonly known as BPA that contacts the mouths of babies and young children.

Dr. Patricia DeMarco, Rachel Carson Homestead Association executive director, called for the ban and development of a substitute material without BPA's dangerous effects at the third annual Rachel Carson Legacy Conference titled 'When Chemicals Disrupt: Managing Our Risk' in the Bidwell Center on the North Side.

'The ban of BPA in children's products presents significant public safety issues which have not been solved in other venues,' said Dr. DeMarco. She said her association will convene a committee of business, academic and health professionals in Pittsburgh to provide recommendations for a BPA ban that can be practically and sustainably implemented."

Stop using babies as lobbyists

FP Comment: "Next, the benefits of a chemical product must be clearly communicated. Here again, Health Canada has improved its approach from the communications paralysis that initially afflicted the department during the bisphenol A communications debacle in April of 2008.

A month later, common sense returned to the file with the government stating: “The current scientific evidence indicates that the general public need not be concerned as levels of BPA present in food do not pose a health risk. Epoxy resin can linings containing bisphenol A provide an important safety function by protecting the quality of food and beverages (i.e., prevents corrosion of the can material and prevents reactions between the food and the can material).”"

EPA plans closer scrutiny of chemicals in products

STLtoday.com: "In addition to legislative changes, the EPA will use existing regulatory power to launch new reviews of 'priority' chemicals that the agency could ultimately restrict or ban. Among those are bisphenol A and phthalates. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a plastic-hardening chemical. Phthalates, a substance that adds flexibility and durability, is used in everything from glues to medicine coatings to vinyl upholstery. Both are associated with disrupting hormone production."

While the EPA's goals seem to cover very basic ground, environmental health advocates say the move is evidence that the nation's chemical regulations under the TSCA -- sometimes pronounced "tosca" -- are obselete.

"The system we have now assumes that chemicals are innocent until proven guilty," said Jane Houlihan, senior vice president for research at Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C. "These reforms introduced today would flip that."

SIGG CEO: I'm Sorry

Steve Wasik: "I am writing to apologize.

As Chief Executive Officer of SIGG, a leading maker of reusable water bottles, I made a mistake when I decided not to announce that our old bottle liner contained trace amounts of bisphenol A. I learned about the liner's content in 2006, when there was debate in the scientific community about the effects of BPA. Scientists lined up on both sides of the issue: Some said BPA posed potential health risks, others said BPA was perfectly safe."

Unveil an independently managed grant program to help fund BPA and chemical research that will help eliminate confusion and concern about this issue. While we have moved away from BPA in SIGG products, it continues to be used in countless products that we all use each day. If it poses a real threat, we want to help curb its use.

SIGG Website apology

Why I Don’t Give A Damn About The BPA in Sigg Water Bottles

Wend Magazine: "So, what’s a CEO to do? From looking at these studies, BPA sure doesn’t seem to be a big deal. Even the most dedicated World of Warcraft players can’t drink 940 cans of soda a day. The problem is that perception is reality, especially when the media latches on to an issue like BPA leaching, making it a darling."

So why don’t I care about Sigg?

BPA is everywhere. It’s not just in the Sigg bottles of old. It’s not just in baby bottles. It’s in thousands and thousands of food products we consume everyday. It seems that the outrage should be aimed at every company who puts food or drink in an epoxy lined can.

Assembly delays vote on infant health safety measure

latimes.com: "The California Assembly put off a final vote on whether to ban the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles and infant formula and baby food containers Wednesday after an emotional debate over children's safety.

The measure, favored by a 35-31 vote, twice fell short of 41 necessary for passage. It was scheduled to come up for another vote today.

A ferocious lobbying battle over the legislation pitted public health and education groups against chemical, pharmaceutical and packaging giants, and was closely watched around the nation amid similar movements to ban the chemical."

Why We Must Ban BPA From Products Made For Children

Harvey Karp:: "The problem is, BPA leaches off the wall of the cans and containers and into our mouths - and our babies' mouths - and into our bodies with every gulp.

In 2007, the CDC reported that over 93 percent of Americans have BPA floating through our bodies. That's a concern because BPA is an endocrine disruptor chemical. That means that even miniscule concentrations of this compound can pervert the normal development of hormonally sensitive tissues, like breast, testicles and brain.

Hundreds of studies on laboratory animals reveal that BPA promotes obesity, diabetes, testicular cancer, breast cancer-like changes (and resistance to life saving chemotherapy) and even reduce sperm counts. This is very worrisome because, over the past 20 years, scientists have noticed rising rates of these problems in people all around the world. In the recently launched National Children's Study, America's monumental evaluation of the adverse health effects of common chemicals, BPA is one of the suspect compounds being evaluated for possible association with autism, cancer, learning disorders, etc."

Home Canning versus Bisphenol A

MamaStories: "But consider factory-canned foods and bisphenol A, the stuff that got banned from baby bottles. One of my favorite watchdogs, the Environmental Working Group, determined that almost all factory-canned foods and beverages have bisphenol A in them, simply because most cans are lined with bisphenol A epoxy resin as a sealant (here). That not just in the can, but in the food.

Infants and young children are at greater risk because of their small size and developing bodies. Studies of laboratory animals or cultured human cells have shown exposure to bisphenol A can cause neural and behavioral changes, precancerous growths in breast and prostate tissues, early onset puberty and other effects at very low doses. In addition, bisphenol A crosses the placenta and has been found in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord tissue, showing that there is no prenatal protection from a mother’s exposure. (here)

Recent reports from the National Institute for Environmental Health conclude that there is concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current levels of exposure to BPA. Presently, there are no recommended minimum exposure limits for infants or children. More research is also needed to understand all the health effects that may be associated with exposure to Bisphenol A. (here)

But we’ve been consuming it since the ’30s."

Vote near on banning chemical from some baby products

ContraCostaTimes.com: "On Tuesday the Assembly will vote on SB 797, which would ban the use of a chemical in feeding products and packaging designed for children under 3 years old by 2011.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hormone-disrupting chemical that acts like an estrogen in the body and is widely used in shatter-proof plastic baby bottles, sipping cups and the lining of formula cans.

It leaches out of containers and into food and drink consumed by babies and youth, said Assemblywomen Fran Pavley, D-Santa Monica, who authored the bill.

Exposure to the toxin could cause neurological effects and increase the chance of cancer, she said."

How can I avoid BPA?

Mother Nature Network: "Dear Vanessa,
I’m worried about exposing my family to bisphenol A, but it seems like it's in everything. I've heard that it's bad to use canned foods because BPA is in tin cans, but a friend also told me recently not to microwave any plastic food containers. Is that true, even for Tupperware? What about restaurant to-go boxes? Are plastic containers safe to use as long as I don't microwave them?

— Mary K. in New Orleans, L"

Be worried, be very worried.

• Don’t buy canned foods or beverages. Really.

FDA Science Board Meeting Presentations

Including BPA reviews

Click here

U.S. FDA to reconsider BPA safety issue

Plastics News: "FDA said CFSAN was currently reviewing more than 100 studies, many of which evaluate the potential risk for low-dose exposure to BPA. One of the recommendations of the FDA Science Board subcommittee last October had been to review such studies.

An FDA spokesman said the review will focus on the potential adverse human health effects that were considered to be of some concern in the National Toxicology Program report in September 2008.

That NTP report was dismissed by previous leadership at FDA. Among other things, NTP had suggested that parents might want to reduce the exposure of infants to products that contain BPA.

The agency had received stinging criticism in October for rejecting a report by an FDA Science Board subcommittee which said that FDA’s position that BPA is not harmful ignores critical studies and that the margins of safety the agency defines as adequate “are, in fact, inadequate.”

Eleven safety agencies around the world have said that BPA is safe for use in food contact applications."

BPA industry fights back

JSOnline: "The industry has launched an unprecedented public relations blitz that uses many of the same tactics - and people - the tobacco industry used in its decades-long fight against regulation. This time, the industry's arsenal includes state-of-the-art technology. Their modern-day Trojan horses: blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia and YouTube.

A four-month investigation by the Journal Sentinel reveals a highly calibrated campaign by plastics makers to fight federal regulation of BPA, downplay its risks and discredit anyone who characterizes the chemical as a health threat. The newspaper examined thousands of pages of Internal Revenue Service reports, disclosure forms and e-mails between government scientists and lobbyists as well as the industry's own public relations materials."

Bill Carteaux paced the stage with the intensity of a general about to send troops into bloody battle.

He is at war against mounting momentum to ban bisphenol A, a key ingredient in hard, clear plastic products. Studies have linked BPA to breast cancer, testicular cancer, reproductive deformities and neurological defects.

Carteaux, president of the Society of the Plastics Industry, represents manufacturers of thousands of products made with BPA. Sales of that chemical now top $6 billion a year.

For decades, the chemical industry has been able to control the debate on whether BPA is harmful to human health. Now the Food and Drug Administration, which had relied on industry-financed studies to declare the chemical safe, is reconsidering its determination. The decision is expected by Nov. 30.

Trevor Butterworth, Bisphenol A poseur uncovered.

Our Stolen Future: "STATS chief author writing about bisphenol A has been Trevor Butterworth. According to STATS website, Butterworth is trained in philosophy and has an MS in journalism, but no scientific training. Most recently, he published a lengthy analysis of 'Science Suppressed: How American Became Obsessed With Bisphenol A.' In doing research for this article, he identified himself to at least one scientist, Dr. Fred vom Saal (University of Missouri) in an email 'questions from journalist.'"

Now a lengthy investigative story by Meg Kissinger and Susanne Rust (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 August 2009), BPA industry fights back, reports that Butterworth is a poseur, claiming to be a journalist but in fact participating in a broad effort by the bisphenol A industry to protect this material from government regulation. Based on a review of its financial reports, STATS, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is really a branch of the Center for Media and Public Affairs. According to the MJS, "that group was paid by the tobacco industry to monitor news stories about the dangers of tobacco."

What 'BPA-free' really means

What 'BPA-free' really means: "Galloway and her colleagues said those with the highest levels of BPA concentrations in their urine had nearly three times the odds of cardiovascular disease, compared with participants with the lowest levels of BPA. The study also found people with high BPA levels had 2.4 times the odds of Type 2 diabetes in comparison with those with the lowest levels.

No need for hysteria

Despite her research, Galloway says she doesn't think a ban on bisphenol A is necessary. She says people can simply limit their exposure to the compound, and points to innovations in the manufacturing process that can drastically reduce BPA levels in polycarbonates.

And Galloway says there is at least some merit to the Health Canada findings."

Bisphenol A - Cigarette Tobacco Lobbyists for Bisphenol A

thedailygreen.com: "Some key facts from the new report, which is a must-read:

The same lobbying firm, the Weinberg Group, represents both the tobacco and chemical industries. Its mission, in part, is to 'support products in the legal system, the media and in the court of public opinion.'

When it comes to regulation of harmful chemicals in consumer products, those with the best lobbyists often get what they want, often despite what the science says about health risks. The FDA has been relying on the industry for its safety assessments of Bisphenol A for more than a decade.

To win over the public on Bisphenol A, the $6 billion industry and its lobbyists are launching a $10 million multi-media offensive, including faux-independent think tanks, YouTube videos, search engine optimization, Facebook and Twitter marketing and other tools of Web 2.0. (Maybe we'll see Bill Carteaux of International Plastics Showcase, a sister to the American Chemistry Council, on the Colbert Report soon?)"

Protect children from bisphenol A

San Bernardino County Sun: "Last week, I joined moms from all walks of life who took time out of their busy days to attend a rally in Los Angeles to support this bill. We added our voices to those of mothers, scientists and health care providers across the state to demand that California children be protected from BPA.

The babies I care for every day deserve the same protection as children who are fortunate enough to live in an area that has taken action to restrict this chemical. Our Assembly members must put our kids' interests above the interests of the chemical industry and ban BPA from children's food and beverage containers.

Call your Assembly member today. Tell him or her that the issue is crystal clear: toxic chemicals have no place in our kids' food and beverage products. Vote yes on SB 797"

‘Endocrine disruptor’ won’t be on label

USA Today: "Some potentially risky chemicals aren’t listed on labels, Houlihan says, because they’re found in packaging. Manufacturers use a hormone-like substance called bisphenol A to line metal cans and add flexibility to plastics, such as baby bottles made with polycarbonate plastic, says Stanford University pediatrician Alan Greene, author of Raising Baby Green.

Although manufacturers say bisphenol A is safe and there are no human studies showing it poses a threat, tests in animals have linked the chemical to early puberty and cancer. Greene recommends avoiding plastics with certain recycling codes: #7 may include bisphenol A, and #3 may contain phthalates. Plastics with recycling codes 1, 2 and 5 are safer, he says"

SIGG admits bottles contain BPA

Examiner.com: "Check your SIGG bottle! SIGG admits that before August 2008, the inside liner of it’s wildly popular stainless steel bottles contained BPA

In California, stores such as Whole Foods, REI and Mollie Stones have been busy pulling the old Bisphenol A (BPA) bottles from shelves. BPA is a hormone disrupting ingredient that is banned in Canada, but not in the U.S. Stores that sell SIGG bottles are now offering customers a FREE replacement or refund."

It’s easy to check and see if you purchased a SIGG containing BPA. Simply take a look at the inside rim (liner) of your SIGG bottle, if it is GOLD, then you are entitled to a replacement. The GOLD rim liners are the bottles in question. You can also get a FREE replacement through the SIGG website on-line at www.mysigg.com. The new and BPA-free SIGG bottles, according to SIGG, have beige colored liners. SIGG says it started selling the new BPA-free bottles in August of 2008.

What is BPA and how do I avoid it?

Green Living 101: "Almost all canned foods (including canning jars) sold in the U.S. have a BPA-based epoxy liner that can leach BPA into the food inside. Pregnant women and young children, especially, should limit their consumption of canned foods to avoid BPA.

(If you’re feeding your baby infant formula, use powdered formula because it has the least BPA.)

Buy fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned.

For canned veggies and fruits, choose glass bottles where available; the lids may contain BPA but less than cans.

For canned beans, choose Eden Foods brand because the cans are BPA-free. Or soak and cook dried beans; It’s a little more work but also costs less.

Rinsing canned fruit or vegetables may reduce the amount of BPA you ingest.

Make a special effort to avoid canned prepared foods like pastas and soups."

BPA Warning From The Massachusetts Department of Public Health

wbztv.com: "The Massachusetts Department of Health has issued a Public Health Advisory over the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, which can be found in baby bottles and other reusable food and beverage containers.

The warning issued Monday afternoon urges parents to avoid using baby bottles that contain BPA for children under the age of two."

Pregnant or breastfeeding women can eat or cook with fresh or frozen products instead of canned foods — which may contain BPA — to reduce fetal or infant exposure to BPA

Upstate NY County Bans BPA

NEWSInferno.com: "Bisphenol A—BPA—the dangerous, ubiquitous estrogen-mimicking toxin that has been linked to a wide variety of adverse health events has just been banned in Schenectady County in upstate New York."

BPA is banned in Connecticut, Minnesota, Chicago, and New York’s Suffolk County. Wisconsin recently became the third state to introduce a bill to ban BPA-containing baby bottle and sippy cup sales for children and California voted on a similar bill that is in the Assembly. Key members in the U.S. House and Senate introduced legislation for a federal ban on BPA in all food and beverage containers, and 24 states have bills in the works to restrict the toxin; Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban BPA, calling it a toxin, and newly appointed U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Dr. Margaret Hamburg, said the agency is reconsidering its decision that BPA is safe at current levels, especially those found in baby bottles, a decision for which the agency has faced fierce criticism.

French senate seeks to ban BPA in food containers

ENDS Europe: "A group of nine lawmakers in France's upper parliamentary house, the senate, have proposed to ban the use of controversial bisphenol-A (BPA) in plastic food containers such as baby feeding bottles."

There are concerns BPA, a plastics intermediate, could disrupt endocrine hormone systems in humans. The senators invoke the precautionary principle, citing studies linking the chemical to prostate and breast cancer as well as other diseases such as diabetes.

BPA can migrate in small amounts into food and beverages stored in plastic containers. Last year, European food safety authority EFSA confirmed the EU tolerable daily intake (TDI) of BPA in food provides "a sufficient margin of safety". But in June the Canadian government said it was going to ban BPA in baby feeding bottles.

Draft French Law

BPA found to have "dramatic" effect on adult hormone levels

scienceagogo.com: "The University of Illinois researchers behind the new study explained how a healthy, mature follicle (an antral follicle) includes a single egg cell surrounded by layers of cells and fluid which support the egg and produce steroid hormones.

'These are the only follicles that are capable of ovulating and so if they don't grow properly they're not going to ovulate and there could be fertility issues,' researcher Jodi Flaws said. 'These follicles also make sex steroid hormones, and so if they don't grow properly you're not going to get proper amounts of these hormones.' Such hormones are essential for reproduction, she added, 'but they're also required for healthy bones, a healthy heart and a healthy mood.'

The new study found that follicle growth was impaired after 48 hours of exposure to BPA. Reductions in three key steroid hormones - progesterone, testosterone and estradiol - were also seen after 120 hours of exposure to BPA. The drop in steroid hormone production was quite dramatic, said the researchers. After 120 hours in a medium that included 10 micrograms per milliliter of BPA, mouse follicle cells produced about 85 percent less estradiol, 97 percent less progesterone and 95 percent less testosterone. Lower doses of BPA had a less dramatic - but still considerable - dampening effect on steroid hormone levels."

California won’t warn public about bisphenol A

Aftermath News: "While more than 200 studies have linked bisphenol A to problems ranging from behavioral issues to cancer, products containing the chemical will not carry warning labels, according to a decision made Wednesday by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee.

“This isn’t exactly a committee that’s on the cutting edge of public health decisions in California,” said Gretchen Lee Salter, policy director at the Breast Cancer Fund."

California panel decides not to list BPA as a toxin

Consumer Reports on Safety: "It's rare that California doesn't set the bar for dealing with a health threat, but that's exactly what's happened. A California board of seven physicians and Ph.D.s voted unanimously last week not to include BPA as a developmental or reproductive toxin, saying there was not enough scientific evidence of the chemical's potential dangers.

Startling and disturbing, in light of the mounting evidence that BPA (bisphenol A, a chemical used in some plastic bottles and food containers) can mimic estrogen and may be linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, reproductive abnormalities, and other health problems in children and adults."

Toxic Hormone Disrupting Chemical BPA in Canned Food and Drink

Safe Alternatives for Baby and Child: "Unfortunately, these laws DO NOT address the exposure to BPA in ‘regular’ packaged food geared towards the general population, young children and pregnant women ALSO frequently eat or drink. Only California legislation proposes a broader ban: no BPA in ALL canned beverages and food containers."

Migration of Bisphenol A from Can Coatings to Liquid Infant Formu...

IngentaConnect.: "To investigate the effect of storage time on BPA migration from can coatings to liquid infant formula at room temperature, samples of 21 canned liquid infant formula products from different cans but the same lot as those analyzed for BPA previously were analyzed for BPA again after storage at room temperature for 10 months.

Additional migration of BPA from can coatings to liquid formula during the 10-month storage period at room temperature was observed for 9 of the 21 products, with increases in BPA levels ranging from 29.8 to 110%. Significant differences between the 2007 and 2008 results (P = 0.026) were observed for only one brand of product, which had the lowest BPA levels in the 2007 survey. The BPA levels in the milk-based formula products analyzed in 2008 (mean, 6.8 ng/g) were significantly higher (P = 0.00023) than those in the milk-based formula products analyzed in 2007 (mean, 5.0 ng/g), whereas the differences in BPA levels between the soya-based formula products analyzed in 2008 (mean, 5.3 ng/g) and those analyzed in 2007 (mean, 5.8 ng/g) were not significant (P = 0.097)"

The Use of Bisphenol A in Consumer Products

Environmental Public Health Today: "Bisphenol A is a chemical which is widely used in the United States in the production of plastics and resins, and is used in many consumer products, including but not limited to canned food packaging and clear plastic containers.

In recent years, there have been a number of concerns raised regarding the safety of long-term exposure to this chemical.

Evidence indicates that long-term exposure to bisphenol A may disrupt endocrine function and contribute to chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Based on this evidence and the wide-spread availability of safe alternatives to bisphenol A, it is recommended that use of bisphenol A in the manufacturing of consumer food and drink packaging and storage products be terminated."

Marie Ulrich Gallo, Walden University

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for PUBH 8165: Environmental Health

Jeff Wu, PhD, July 19, 2009

Toxin tests surprise Health Canada

www.canada.com: "Health Canada scientists have found bisphenol A leaching into the liquid of plastic baby bottles marketed to parents as being free of the toxic chemical.

The study says 'traces' of the toxin were found in 'BPA-free' bottles while internal correspondence between a department official and the lead scientist went further, characterizing the amounts in two brands as 'high readings.'

Manufacturers of non-polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, however, were quick to challenge the 'shocking' results, saying there must be a problem with the way the agency conducted the research."

Bisphenol A traces found in baby food

Health Canada: "Health Canada's findings covered 122 baby foods prepackaged in glass jars with metal lids, representing seven brands by six different companies. The baby food was bought in Ottawa last August.

It found the BPA levels in different baby food products ranged from 0.19 parts per billion to a high of 7.22 parts per billion in one particular brand of strained organic carrots.

The variation could be due to the differences in metal lid coatings or sterilization conditions — temperature and duration — used for different baby food products, the report said.

'The results of this survey clearly indicate that exposure to BPA through the consumption of jarred baby food products would be extremely low,' the Health Canada analysis says.

'The low levels of BPA found in jarred baby products available for sale in Canada confirms Health Canada's previous assessment conclusion that the current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging uses is not expected to pose a health risk to the consumer.'"

Updates on BPA and pthalates

Green Chemicals: "The American Chemistry Council (ACC) send me some updates about bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates last week.

With regards to BPA, the ACC said that a new data from Health Canada confirmed the safety level of the chemical in bottled water, baby food and infant formula, and that they are said to be extremely low.

'These new government data confirm Health Canada's previous conclusion that exposure to BPA through food packaging uses is not expected to pose a health risk to the general population, including newborns and young children.' - ACC

The ACC said an adult would have to drink approximately 1,000 liters (or 264 gallons) of water from polycarbonate water cooler bottles every day to approach the BPA intake limit established in Canada.

No BPA was reportedly detected in any canned powdered infant formula samples tested while the levels found in baby food packaged in jars are said to be extremely low.

The Canadian Bottled Water Association and the North American Metal Packaging Alliance both applauded the Health Canada BPA survey and said it confirmed the safety levels of BPA in food packaging."

Nena Baker: How Eden Foods Pioneered BPA-free Cans

AlterNet: "Here's the back story on Eden Foods' switch to BPA-free cans for its bean products:
In 1997, Potter learned that new research was raising questions about the safety of bisphenol A, and that one of BPA's many applications was in the linings of cans. 'Being a canner, it got my attention, ' said Potter.

He asked his can suppliers -- three of them at the time -- if bisphenol A was in the cans they were selling to Eden Foods. 'I made hundreds of phone calls to these three manufacturers,' he said. 'Remarkably, I couldn't find out if it was in the cans I was using or not.'
The can companies didn't have to disclose what chemicals they were using as long as they claimed it was a trade secret.

'I was flabbergasted that legally, it was none of my business. I had no right to know, as a consumer, a food manufacturer, a parent or grandparent.'"

Calif. regulators will not list Bisphenol A under Prop. 65, call for more study

Breaking News 24/7: "A California regulatory board voted Wednesday against placing Bisphenol A, a chemical used to manufacture plastic baby bottles and toys, on the state’s list of chemicals that are believed to cause reproductive harm.


The panel, comprised of seven physicians, unanimously decided that the chemical known as BPA should not be covered under Proposition 65, a voter-approved measure used by regulators to identify substances that can cause birth defects, developmental or reproductive harm.

Board members voiced concerns over the growing scientific research showing BPA’s effect on fetal health in animals, but said none of the studies they reviewed offered clear evidence of the chemical’s toll on human health."

Consideration of bisphenol A for Proposition 65 listing

Consideration of bisphenol A for Proposition 65 listing by the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee on July 15, 2009 in Oakland: Hazard Identification Materials and Meeting Agenda Notice Available

Items available on the oehha web site at www.oehha.ca.gov

Top US food canner preparing for BPA ban

The Canmaker: "A leading US food canner is investigating alternatives to can coatings that use bisphenol-A (BPA), at it faces the prospect of a nationwide ban of the chemical.
Speaking exclusively to The Canmaker at the recent Europack Summit in Monte Carlo, the executive, who did not want to be identified, suggested that it 'looked likely' that BPA would be banned throughout the US, following pressure from activist groups."

Flaws in the Case Against BPA

NYTimes.com: "The claims about the dangers of the chemical bisphenol-A, or BPA , get a skeptical look in a report by a nonpartisan, nonprofit group, STATS.

The chemical is in hard, clear plastic bottles and the liners of canned goods. There are claims that it has estrogen-like effects that might accelerate puberty, cause neurological damage, interfere with chemotherapy and increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration’s expert panel admonished the agency for assuring consumers the chemical was safe.

STATS has a different view:

Missing in this debate is that it’s not just ‘industry groups’ that think BPA shouldn’t be banned — or just industry-sponsored studies that say it’s safe. Scientist, regulators, politicians in Europe, Australia, and Japan have all rejected the evidence that the chemical is harmful as methodologically flawed, badly conducted, or irrelevant — with some warning that banning it could actually endanger the public. Now that the National Institutes of Health has acknowledged that it funded a lot of poorly-designed research on BPA — the very research that is touted as evidence that the chemical is deadly — it’s time to ask whether America has been spun by clever marketing rather than clever science."

Bisphenol A Implicated in Breast and Prostate Cancer: "Ban It Now," Urges Dr Ruddy

PRWeb: "Dr. Kathleen T. Ruddy, a breast cancer surgeon and the founder of the Breast Health and Healing Foundation, has been in the forefront of the fight to ban BPA from all products and to eliminate it from the environment. In a June 22, 2009 blog post (excerpted below) on the BH&HF website and on Dr. Kathleen T. Ruddy's Breast Cancer Blog at http://drktruddy.workpress.com, she described similarities between breast and prostate cancers and their linkage to BPA."

California is new front line of BPA fight

Grist: "Some canned food companies, like Eden Foods, Eco-fish and Vital Choice, claim to be exploring alternatives to BPA-resin can liners. For nearly a decade, Japan’s canned food industry has been actively reducing the levels of BPA exposure from the lining of food and beverage containers.

As more consumers proactively seek out BPA-free products, it is not only feasible, but potentially profitable, for industry to switch to alternative chemicals in the production and sale of food and beverage containers-ones that don’t leach BPA. California should continue the state’s powerful tradition as a national policy leader and a pioneering watchdog of consumer health and safety, especially when it comes to protecting small children from the dangers of BPA."

NAMPA Welcomes Congressional Calls For Expedited Review Of BPA

NAMPA: "The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. (NAMPA) welcomes the Congressional request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite and clarify its review of the scientific research on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) in food and beverage packaging applications.

NAMPA has and will continue to support FDA’s actions to provide a thorough review of the scientific evidence regarding BPA in an open, transparent assessment process. We agree with Representatives Waxman and Stupak that it is of the utmost importance that FDA “thoroughly and fairly reviews the best science on BPA” during this process and the risk assessment relies on sound science. A timely review will provide the public confidence in the safety of these products and demonstrate FDA’s commitment to the scientific review process and effective risk assessment. ..more.."

What Would Happen If BisPhenol A (BPA) Were Phased Out Tomorrow?

TreeHugger: "Can linings all over the world are based on BPA epoxies. I personally seldom eat canned food, and thus am not too worried about an occasional and infinitesimally small BPA exposure I get via that route. Please take a moment to read the following excerpt from an online industry source:- Epoxy Resin Can Coatings and Bisphenol A Safety Information, and see if you agree with my assessment."

Metal food and beverage cans have a thin coating on the interior surface, which is essential to prevent corrosion of the can and contamination of food and beverages with dissolved metals (UK FSA, 2002). In addition, the coating helps to prevent canned foods from becoming tainted or spoiled by bacterial contamination. The major types of interior can coating are made from epoxy resins, which have achieved wide acceptance for use as protective coatings because of their exceptional combination of toughness, adhesion, formability and chemical resistance. Such coatings are essentially inert and have been used safely for over 40 years. In addition to protecting contents from spoilage, these coatings make it possible for food products to maintain their quality and taste, while extending shelf life.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a key building block of epoxy resins. In 1995, Brotons and coworkers reported that BPA could migrate from can coatings during the food canning process. Later that same year, the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), initiated a study to quantify the migration of BPA from can coatings.

Based on the results of the SPI study, the estimated dietary intake of BPA from can coatings is less than 0.00011 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day. This level is more than 450 times lower than the maximum acceptable or “reference” dose for BPA of 0.05 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Worth keeping in mind, as you think this through, that baby food is generally sold in jars. Baby formula in cans is still out there as an issue, and probably deserves to be treated separately.

Overall, there are both hazards and safety benefits of the existing coating systems that need to be looked at in balance. That's EPA's and FDA's work, going forward.

BPA Trade Group: Bringing Poison to Americans

Daily Kos: : "The BPA Gang is apparently not content to just have their lackeys at FDA doing their dirty work; now they're set to launch a full-blown offensive against the babies of America.

We all knew they wouldn't go down without a fight, and here it is.

From a recent North American Metal Packaging Alliance-hosted BPA Joint Trade Association Meeting on Communications Strategy -"

Pavley’s anti-BPA bill is making end run around science

Capitol Weekly: "Again this year, legislation has been proposed in California - SB 797 (Pavley) - to ban consumer products such as baby bottles, sippy cups, canned infant formula and baby food that contain trace levels of bisphenol A (BPA). As in past attempts, this legislation is unwarranted and sets a bad public policy precedent by ignoring the many recent safety evaluations by government bodies around the world. The global regulatory consensus has concluded that BPA is safe for use in consumer products, including products for infants and children."

More Troubling News About BPA

Science News: "At the Endocrine Society meeting in Washington D.C., this week, three different research teams will report new and troubling data from animals experimentally treated with BPA. The scientists shared their findings with reporters, late this morning. Formal presentations of their data are scheduled for later this week"

Medical Group Calls for Action on BPA

Newsinferno: "Wisconsin just became the third state to introduce a bill to ban BPA-containing baby bottle and sippy cup sales for children. Earlier this month, California voted on a similar bill that is in the Assembly, and New York’s Suffolk County, Chicago, Minnesota, and Connecticut all have similar bans in effect. Key members in the U.S. House and Senate introduced legislation for a federal ban on BPA in all food and beverage containers, and 24 states have bills in the works to restrict the toxin; Canada was the first country to announce plans to ban BPA, calling it a toxin, and newly appointed FDA commissioner, Dr. Margaret Hamburg, said the agency is reconsidering its decision that BPA is safe at current levels, especially those found in baby bottles.

USA today pointed out that USA’s National Toxicology Program last year expressed “some concern” over BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses and children; the prior year, 38 key researchers published a statement about BPA’s serious risks. Endocrine Society president, Robert Carey said, these chemicals “affect everyone,” noting what has long been reported: The vast majority—over 90 percent—of Americans test positive for BPA exposure, said USA Today."

Blumenthal: Chemical industry tried to kill legislation

The Connecticut Post Online: "Blumenthal has written to the major firms in an attempt to obtain details on the tactics. The companies include Crown Packaging Corp, Alcoa, Del Monte Foods, the American Chemistry Council, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Coca-Cola Co. and the North American Metal Packaging Alliance Inc."

Blumenthal said his investigation will parallel a similar congressional probe. "It's a menace to public health, especially when it involves BPA, where our Legislature has stepped forward to impose restrictions to protect public health," he said.

Meyer said that over the last two years it's become clearer that BPA is a health threat to young children. The bill makes Connecticut the second state, after Minnesota, to prohibit the chemical. "The lobby is very strong against this," he said. "We had concerns about whether we could get this through this year."

He said that while the industry has continued to claim BPA is safe, it's becoming clearer that it's not.

Connecticut AG Joins Battle over Bisphenol A (BPA)

Attorney Daily: "On June 15, 2009, Connecticut attorney general, Richard Blumenthal demanded industry plans to promote a chemical common in the making of baby bottles and other food containers. Mr. Blumenthal said he’s troubled by a May 28, 2009 meeting in Washington of companies that form the North American Metal Packaging Alliance."

Blumenthal said he sent letters to several companies across the country, “putting (them) on notice that we will not accept this kind of coercive campaign.” He said he hopes companies will eliminate use of bisphenol A (BPA) in their products by 2011, and he plans to appeal to other states to help put pressure on them.

Officials say companies such as Gerber and Playtex already have volunteered to stop using the chemical in their products.