What goes on behind closed doors

JSOnline: "Here are the minutes of that now famous meeting last Thursday in Washington D.C. at the Cosmos Club (where, ironically, they didn't allow women as members until 1988). Pay attention to the parts where they talk about getting a pregnant woman to be the spokesperson for bisphenol A, a chemical actually linked to a host of medical problems, particularly in fetuses and newborns.

Meeting Minutes

North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc.

May 28, 2009, 10:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m. EDT
RE: BPA Joint Trade Association Meeting on Communications Strategy
Meeting Goal: Develop potential communication/media strategies around BPA

Discussion Topics: Consideration of available web-based communication options, including targeted geographies, as well as mainstream media response

Attending Companies: Coca-Cola, Alcoa, Crown, North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc., Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), American Chemistry Council, Del Monte"

Shoppers can demand details of chemicals

Irish Medical Times: "A ‘candidate list’ of substances of ‘very high concern’ has been compiled. Among the 267 chemicals listed so far is Bisphenol A, which is present in baby bottles, food and drink containers and paints. It is associated with reproductive dysfunction and an increased cancer risk.

A ‘know your rights’ leaflet has also been drafted, containing a template letter for people to use to write to manufacturers or retailers asking them to disclose what chemicals on the ‘candidate list’ are in their products. The manufacturer must respond within 45 days.

It was launched by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and supported by 14 European groups, including Greenpeace, the Chemicals Health Monitor and IDEA. It is available to download from www.ideaireland.org."

FDA Congress and California Could Regulate Bisphenol A

Bithedailygreen.com: "Representatives Waxman and Stupak also sent a letter (pdf) to the North American Packaging Alliance, the industry group that promotes the use of BPA in food can linings and asked for all the documents and participants in meetings to discuss BPA strategy for the past two months. 

This strategy was reported to include 'befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process.' And 'a public relations strategy they hoped would include the 'holy grail' of 'showcasing a pregnant woman to talk about the chemical's benefits.' Mr. Waxman and Mr. Stupak have asked for a response by June 16th."

For a new FDA, a new study on BPA's safety

Contemporary Pediatrics: "Representatives Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Bart Stupak (D-Mic.), in a letter on Tuesday, asked new FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD to look into bisphenol A, or BPA. The chemical is used to harden plastic, but recent evidence has shown that it is ingested easily, and can cause numerous developmental delays. Hamburg agreed, assigned the FDA’s acting chief scientist to review the case."

The new FDA safety assessment, Hamburg said, will be completed by the end of the summer.

NAMPA Response to BPA Industry Meeting story

NAMPA: "Should it come as a surprise that our industry seeks to defend the legitimate scientific process that has concluded BPA is safe to use in food contact applications? Should it be viewed as a scandal that the accumulated frustration of the industry leads to consideration of alternative means of communication? We think not. 

Yet, a blatantly inaccurate and fabricated memo purportedly reporting on the discussion in that meeting is now being waved as evidence that the industry is colluding to cover up the facts. The Journal’s attempt to pass off this illegitimate memo from an unidentified source as proof that industry is trying to manipulate the process is shoddy journalism at best and a breach of journalistic ethics at worst."

California Senate approves ban on BPA in plastics

Los Angeles Times: "Despite a fierce lobbying effort by the U.S. chemical industry, the state Senate narrowly approved a proposal Tuesday that would ban the use of a substance in baby bottles, toddler sippy cups and food containers that independent scientists say is a threat to childhood development.

The bill by state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) that would prohibit the use of bisphenol A -- commonly dubbed BPA -- now goes to the Assembly, where it is expected to face a wall of resistance from manufacturers of the products that contain the chemical.

Industry leaders have focused on California for a lobbying and public relations campaign they hope will turn back efforts by health and consumer groups to outlaw use of the chemical, a component in many types of plastic and plastic-lined containers.

Researchers from the chemical industry say the public health threat has been vastly overblown, and manufacturers of BPA argue that it has passed muster with nearly a dozen regulatory agencies in Europe and the United States."

Bans on BPA could have an unexpected serious impact

GLG News: "Bans on BPA will not impact plastics in any tangible way, except for maybe giving all plastics a black eye when it is actually only one type of plastics at issue due to public confusion based on media reports.

The real issue, in my opinion, could shift to food and beverage cans which are line on their inside with epoxy coatings containing BPA.

What appears to be a risk for plastics is more likely a risk for the metal food and beverage can industry.