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EWG Says: The BPA's Gotta Go
Well BPA sure has been in the news a lot lately, huh? And with good reason. We're following the goings on closely, and adding our voice to the debate. We recently sent a letter to top infant formula and canned food producers requesting that they take immediate steps to remove the endocrine-disrupting chemical from canned infant formula and other canned foods.
Because, as we've discussed here on Enviroblog before, if the FDA won't protect public health, consumers will act with their wallets by buying safer products, and advocates - like us - will request that manufacturers make needed changes. Here's what we told the producers:
"Liquid formula is the biggest culprit in exposing infants to a toxic hormone-disrupting chemical, but kid-friendly foods like canned chicken noodle soup and ravioli also have high levels of BPA,” said EWG Senior Analyst Sonya Lunder. “BPA was initially used as a sex hormone. It should never have been allowed to come into contact with infant formula.”“The evidence is overwhelming that FDA has been the industry’s lapdog,” Lunder said. “Manufacturers must immediately repackage formula and canned food to remove this chemical, shown by many studies to cause brain and reproductive system damage in crucial stages of development."
Read our full comments on BPA in liquid formula here.
And for consumers, we put together an updated advisory for parents, including answers to nine common questions. Lunder sums up the situation way:
Although completely eliminating exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may not be possible, there are steps you can take to reduce your family's exposure to this chemical by avoiding common sources and limiting exposure for the highest risk groups.The developing fetus and baby are the most vulnerable to BPA’s toxic effects. Unfortunately they also have the most intense BPA exposure of any age group. Many parents who have replaced their polycarbonate baby bottles are unaware that BPA contaminates liquid baby formula sold in metal cans. Since formula can make up 100% of a baby's diet over her first 6 months of life, parents should choose BPA-free types.
Lunder (clearly a busy woman!) also testified recently to a BPA expert panel convened by the FDA’s advisory Science Board to evaluate an FDA staff risk assessment that termed bisphenol A (BPA) safe (!!) in food packaging. She highlighted seven shortcomings of FDA's risk assessment, every one of which the expert panel confirmed. See our side-by-side comparison here and our full comments here. One way or another, we'll be sure to get our message across. And we're hopeful that the FDA is listening.
[Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons]
All we can do is hope that the FDA is listening and until then, yes use our wallet. I went to a health fair and the health department was giving away free sippy cups made with BPA. I asked them about it and she said, the FDA says there is no danger. Gasp.