Personal Injury Law

BPA and S. 510 - "The perfect is the enemy of the good"

By Bill Marler

I personally do not think BPA should be in cans nor in containers.  But, I also think that its ban should not be in S. 510 - "The Food Safety Modernization Act."  If it is worth it, stand it alone.  But, in and of itself, it should not stand in the way of the first real move for comprehensive food safety legislation in my lifetime.  This press release showed up in my inbox today:

Sen. Feinstein and Environmental Health Advocates to Release Groundbreaking National Report on Canned Foods Contaminated with Toxic Chemical Bisphenol A (BPA)

Report reveals highest levels ever found of sex hormone linked to cancer, infertility in canned food from 19 states

PRESS CONFERENCE

Tuesday, May 18
12:30 noon EDT
SVC 215
Capitol Visitor's Center

SPEAKERS

Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
Liz Hitchcock, U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Nancy Buermeyer, Breast Cancer Fund
Elizabeth Crowe, Kentucky Environmental Foundation

BACKGROUND

Eating common canned foods is exposing consumers to levels of bisphenol A (BPA) equal to levels shown to cause health problems in laboratory animals, according to a new study being released Tuesday by Sen. Feinstein and a national coalition of public health and environmental health groups. The report, No Silver Lining, a result of testing food from 50 cans from 19 US states and one Canadian province for Bisphenol A (BPA) contamination.

The canned foods tested were brand name fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, soups, tomato products, sodas, and milks, which together represent 'real-life' meal options for a wide range of North American consumers. The cans were purchased from retail stores and were chosen from report participants' pantry shelves, and sent to an independent laboratory for testing.

BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical linked to obesity, diabetes, neurodevelopmental, reproductive health effects and cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93% of all Americans have BPA in their bodies.

Right now, the Senate is considering including protections against food-based exposures to BPA in the Food Safety Modernization Act. Sen. Feinstein is leading the effort.

Getting BPA out of food is an urgent food safety and public health issue that demands immediate congressional action so that everyone, especially our kids, will be protected from this unsafe, hormonally active chemical.

The recently released President's Cancer Panel Report highlighted BPA as an example of pervasive chemical exposure suspected of being linked to cancer.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson identified BPA as a priority chemical for evaluation. BPA is an example of why we need to reform the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act.

Here is the full BPA Report:

I am reminded of the Voltaire quote:  'The perfect is the enemy of the good.' 

Full post as published by Marler Blog on May 18, 2010 (boomark / email).