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June 12, 2008
House bill would ban BPA in food, beverage packaging
It seems like everyone and their mother knows about the risks associated with bisphenol A in baby bottles and hard plastic water bottles. Okay, so maybe they don't know the specifics. Recently, while trying to explain what I do to a new acquaintance, I got a blank look until I said "that chemical in water bottles" -- then the lightbulb went off. "Oh, the Nalgene thing! Yeah, I tossed mine and got a metal one."
Anyway, all the media attention to plastic reusable drink containers has been a little perplexing for those of us at Enviroblog HQ. It's not that the risk of BPA in baby bottles is negligible, but it's minor compared to the potential exposure from canned infant formula. Like all other food cans, formula cans are lined with a BPA-based epoxy resin that leaches into formula, under normal use, at considerably higher levels than BPA from baby bottles. And what's really important is the combined dosage, day in and day out as infants develop.
But a new bill, brought to the House yesterday by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), would ban BPA from food and drink containers, including canned infant formula. The ban would affect all canned foods, including prepared foods like soup and pasta which EWG tests found to contain some of the highest levels of BPA. FDA estimates that 17 percent of the US diet is comprised of canned food.
A bill addressing BPA in the Senate would ban the chemical from children's products -- another important step, considering potential exposures from toys, pacifiers and teething instruments that young children put in their mouths. The Senate bill, however, doesn't address food and drink containers. Since many babies are fed canned vegetables starting from 6 months to a year of age, it hardly makes sense to address one and not the other.
Of course, given that there are literally no safety standards for BPA, any legislation at all regulating its use is a significant step forward.
Related: Cheatsheet: Bisphenol A
Photo by Youkeo.
Comments
Will you let us know when we should contact our representatives about this bill?
Posted by: Beth Terry | June 13, 2008 4:34 AM
I have really cut back on my canned food consumption for my family since finding out about the BPA lining several months ago. Its hard as some foods, like beans of all types, come in nothing but cans. I have never had any success with the soak and boil method, so that leaves canned. I really hope this bill passes and that future legislation further restricts ths use of this chemical!
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 26, 2008 12:10 PM
Beth -- I will definitely keep you posted!
Elizabeth, glad to hear you've moved away from canned foods. I agree, beans are tough. I have lots of luck with black beans, kidney beans are usually okay, but chickpeas have consistently come out kinda gross -- which is sad, because I love them on salad.
Posted by: Amanda | June 26, 2008 12:18 PM
beans are easy! just soak them in water overnight until they double in size. Discard that water, put the beans in a kettle, cover with water, add some onion, garlic, salt, pepper and some olive oil. Cover and allow to gently boil until tender. So much better and cheaper than canned beans!
Posted by: carol panaro-smith | June 26, 2008 7:43 PM
Now is the time to contact your state legislators to vote YES on SB1713. I received a flier in the mail today which uses scare tactics to get people to urge their state reps to vote no on SB1713 because this bill "could threaten the safety of our food - increasing the risk of spoilage and contamination". And the flier is stamped with or local Assembly Member's information in a way that looks like the flier came from her office. Please don't let this flier be effective. Call or email your legislator today and tell them to vote YES on SB1713.
Posted by: Shelli | August 4, 2008 4:12 PM