FDA To Reconsider BPA Decision

We receive many inquiries from Atlanta consumers regarding the safety of products apporved by the federal regulatory agencies. During the Bush administration many consumers here in Georgia and elsewhere have expressed concern and bewilderment that certain drugs and products banned in other countries were “approved” by federal agencies for distribution in the United States.
Now, the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has announced it is reviewing a controversial decision it made last year — the conclusion that BPA, a chemical used in baby bottles and food containers, is safe for infants.
The announcement came just hours after two members of Congress sent a letter to new FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg questioning that decision Commissioner Hamburg has pledged to restore confidence in the agency by putting science first in its decision-making process. This is encouraging news as during the past administration many such decisions seemed to be based upon political grounds.
The FDA ruled last year that trace amounts of bisphenol-A, or BPA, that leach out of bottles and food packaging are not dangerous. But the agency’s own advisers faulted the report for relying on a small number of industry-sponsored studies. And consumer advocates said it ignored dozens of animal studies suggesting the chemical can interfere with infant hormone levels.
A spokesman for the FDA said the agency’s chief scientist, Dr. Jesse Goodman, was recently asked to take a fresh look at this important issue from a scientific and policy position. The FDA pledged to review all the data, listen to people on all sides of this issue, and talk to experts inside and outside of the federal government. It further stated that the review will be completed in a short time frame.
BPA is plastic-hardening chemical used in hundreds of household items, including glasses, CDs and canned food. About 90 percent of Americans have traces of BPA in their bodies, as the chemical leaches out of food containers.
But while the kidneys of older children and adults quickly eliminate the chemical from their bodies, newborns and infants may retain it for much longer.
Consumer advocates want restrictions on BPA because it mimics the effects of the hormone estrogen, potentially interfering with young, growing bodies.
Major U.S. retailers, including Toys ‘R’ Us Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.have removed products containing the chemical from their stores. Canada last year banned BPA from all baby bottles and Minnesota last month became the first state to ban baby bottles and sippy cups made with the chemical.