Toxic BPA: Chemical Industry Claims Baby Bottles, Sippy Cups are BPA-Free, Asks FDA for New Rule

Advocacy Groups Respond, Demand Environmental Health Protections Now from bisphenol A (BPA)

News provided by

National Work Group for Safe Markets

Oct 10, 2011, 09:18 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued a statement Friday about bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical made from petroleum products, used in canned food linings, thermal receipt paper, and many polycarbonate plastic products like baby bottles and sippy cups. Nearly a dozen states have implemented restrictions on BPA. California's governor signed a bill restricting BPA last week.

The National Work Group for Safe Markets, a coalition of environmental health groups including Clean and Healthy New York, Center for Health Environment & Justice, Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, and others, responded to the announcement by demanding a phase out of BPA from other products that expose people to the toxic chemical.

"Three years after NRDC petitioned FDA to revoke approval of BPA in these same products, the Agency still has not acted to protect the public," said Dr. Sarah Janssen, Senior Scientist with Natural Resources Defense Council. "Instead, FDA seems to be looking out for the interests of large corporations. This is no way to carry out its mission. It's time for FDA to do its job."

Mike Schade from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) comments, "The chemical industry has invested millions of dollars lobbying against local and state BPA laws. They cite these laws as a key reason why FDA should change food packaging regulations. The petrochemical association has wasted their members' money, and should have invested that money in developing safer substitutions."

"France has just declared its intention to phase out BPA in all food sources," says Bobbi Chase Wilding, with Clean & Healthy New York. "The US is lagging behind other countries' protections from BPA. FDA signals they'll act on ACC's petition, but will they protect Americans from BPA in food can linings?"

Mia Davis of the National Work Group for Safe Markets says, "As a woman interested in starting a family, I'm glad that the chemical industry has stopped fighting parents and consumers who demand safe, nontoxic bottles. We want BPA out of all food containers; we want to know that all chemicals used in these products are safe for moms, babies, everyone."

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SOURCE National Work Group for Safe Markets