Beware of BPA in Food Containers, says FDA Panel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Safeway US Bans BPA Baby Bottles

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

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

BPA Exposure May Affect Behaviors

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

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

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

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

Use baby bottles that are BPA free or glass."

NTP Brief, September 2008

US Pediatric Association Issues BPA Warning

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

Q:  Should I stop using canned liquid formula?

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

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

NAMPA Expresses Confidence in BPA Safety for Food Packaging Applications

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

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

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

Science panel faults FDA assessment of plastics additive

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

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

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

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