BPA Exposure May Affect Behaviors

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

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

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

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

Use baby bottles that are BPA free or glass."

NTP Brief, September 2008

US Pediatric Association Issues BPA Warning

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

Q:  Should I stop using canned liquid formula?

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

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

NAMPA Expresses Confidence in BPA Safety for Food Packaging Applications

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

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

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

Science panel faults FDA assessment of plastics additive

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

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

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

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

Congress questions FDA objectivity on BPA plastic safety

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

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

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

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

Scientists slam FDA report on bisphenol A chemical

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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