Statement of Janet S. Domenitz, MASSPIRG Executive Director
This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that they share the concern expressed more than a year ago by the National Toxicology Project for Bisphenol A’s impact on human development, and that it will continue to work with that agency to better clarify these effects by conducting more research.
More than 6 billion pounds of this estrogen-mimicking chemical are manufactured each year, accounting for nearly $7 billion in sales. The chemical is used to line nearly all food and beverage cans. It is used to make hard clear plastic for baby bottles, tableware, eyeglasses, dental sealants, DVDs and hundreds of other household objects. The chemical, which leaches into food and drink when it is heated, has been linked to prostate and breast cancer, reproductive failure, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and behavioral problems.
MASSPIRG Executive Director Janet S. Domenitz had the following statement:
It’s encouraging that the Food and Drug Administration has registered its concern about Bisphenol A and has advised parents how to reduce children’s exposure while it further investigates the chemical. While we’re seeing positive steps forward-- supporting the manufacture of BPA free baby bottles and sippy cups, and looking to the scientific evidence that has come from independents scientists-- we are concerned that the announcement does not go far enough and sends a mixed message to consumers.
There is already a strong enough body of scientific evidence of this chemical’s potential to harm public health to take more immediate action. We plan to encourage concerned consumers and public health professionals to register their support for immediate action to get this chemical out of children’s food containers during the public comment period.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) and Representative Edward Markey (Mass.) are sponsoring legislation that would take more decisive action to protect children’s health and also would go further by protecting pregnant women. The bills (S.593 and H.R. 1523) would ban BPA from baby bottles, sports water bottles and reusable food containers. The bills would also ban BPA from canned foods where safe alternatives exist and require labeling where they don’t, and would give the FDA the authority to modernize its process for reviewing and approving food-packaging additives like BPA.
