A Consumer Union Study has again found measurable levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) in a variety of canned foods. I previously blogged about the research showing adverse affects to animals exposed to high levels of BPA. The concern is that as Americans, especially children, continue to consume larger quantities of prepared foods including canned products, the higher the levels of BPA they are exposed to. Consumer advocates have long called for the banning of the chemical additive in materials that come in contact with food and beverages.
Even scarier is that some of the tested foods were labeled “BPA free”. The FDA has been conducting a review of the scientific evidence and expects to make a decision by the end of the month. Can linings, baby bottles and sippy cups are the likely products to be targeted.
The marketing arm of the manufacturing industry, the American Chemistry Council insists the BPA exposure levels are low and within safety standards despite several countries already banning its use. Six major U.S. retailers have voluntarily removed BPA-containing baby bottles from their shelves earlier this year.
Hopefully the FDA will make the correct decision and ban BPA from the US market. The manufacturers have safer alternatives and should not put the safety of their customers at risk with dangerous and defective products.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
