The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided it will not take immediate steps to bar bisphenol-A, or BPA, a synthetic estrogen and plastics component, in canned food and liquid infant formula containers.
The decision ignited a firestorm of criticism from environmental and consumer organizations.
“The next decision the FDA should make is to remove ‘responsible for protecting the public health’ from its mission statement,” said Jane Houlihan, Senior Vice President for Research of the Environmental Working Group. “It’s false advertising. Allowing a chemical as toxic as BPA, and linked to so many serious health problems, to remain in food means the agency has veered dangerously off course.”
"Scientists, consumers, retailers, manufacturers and the states are sending clear signals that BPA doesn't belong in our food packaging and that investment in safe alternatives is an investment in the health of the American public. Now the FDA needs to catch up. Inaction is not acceptable," said Jeanne Rizzo, Breast Cancer Fund President & CEO. "The FDA needs to take decisive, urgent action to ensure that all of us -- regardless of where we live or where we shop -- are protected from this toxic chemical."
The FDA said it "has determined, as a matter of science and regulatory policy, that the best course of action at this time is to continue our review and study of emerging data on BPA," and that "this announcement is not a final safety determination and the FDA continues to support research examining the safety of BPA."
"This weak response is deeply disappointing and calls into question the FDA's ability to take decisive action to protect public health," Rizzo said.
While the FDA continues to ponder the matter, some private companies are acting on their own to reduce BPA exposure. Campbell's announced in March that it would phase out BPA from its soup can linings and many large retailers, including Walmart, have stopped selling certain products -- notably baby bottles -- containing BPA.
2007 study
A 2007 study by the Environmental Working Group found that BPA leached from epoxy linings of cans into surrounding food and drink. EWG’s tests showed the highest concentrations of the chemical, a synthetic estrogen, in canned soup, pasta and infant formula.
Studies have found BPA in breast milk, saliva, urine, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood.
The chemical has been associated with many health problems, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, insulin resistance, reproductive defects, diabetes and miscarriages.
“Pregnant women and new parents should no longer think FDA has their backs,” said Houlihan.
Low-dose exposure
FDA’s decision comes just weeks after a three-year study published by The Endocrine Society found low dose exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals, including BPA, do produce significant, adverse health effects in people. The report rebuts the chemical and food industries’ arguments that people are exposed to too little BPA to do harm.
“When the most populous state in the country, California, and the world’s largest soup maker, Campbell’s, are both taking steps to reduce BPA in people’s diets, you’d think the FDA would join in,” said Houlihan. “The FDA and chemical industry lobbyists may soon be the only ones left to defend the use of this synthetic hormone in food containers.”
Late last year, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that will prohibit the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups made with BPA, making the state the 11th to take similar action. And, earlier this month Campbell’s became the latest food company to say that it is phasing out the use of BPA.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided it will not take immediate steps to bar bisphenol-A, or BPA, a synthetic estrogen and plastics...