Industry Fights Ban of Bisphenol A

Since the publication of various studies and warnings concerning bisphenol A, representatives from the food packing industry have become worried not only that consumers will cease buying products packaged in plastic, but that the chemical will be banned outright. According to the Washington Post, who obtained notes from an industry meeting last spring, these titans moaned about the future of their industry and the fact that consumers don't appreciate just how important BPA really is.

According to the article's author, Lyndsey Layton, these industry hacks brainstormed about various propaganda campaigns designed to buoy bisphenol A's reputation. Among these were "scare tactics" in which ads would infer that consumers would not be able to buy their favorite foods anymore if BPA were banned to employing a pregnant, female "spokesperson" who would spend her time trumpeting the "benefits of BPA".

Do these guys really believe bisphenol A is safe? Not on your life. There have been scores of articles decrying the negative health effects of BPA, many of them since the 2007 scientific consensus statement. Yet, our own Food and Drug Administration still considers it safe. Based on what, you may ask? Well, based upon two studies funded by the chemical industry, of course.

Personally, I have seen the effects of this controversy in my local stores. Stainless steel has become a viable alternative to plastic for coffee and water containers, for example. Unfortunately, I have also had to cross a couple of items off of my grocery list because they are no longer packaged in glass, but plastic. Danger, schmanger, who cares about health when shipping costs are decreased (without a commensurate drop in price, I might add)?

The evidence is changing minds, though. Japan, who only two years ago said there was no compelling reason to restrict BPA, is now using an alternative, and has cut down significantly on its use of the chemical. In 2008, Canada banned its use in baby bottles, and several baby bottle manufacturers have agreed not to use it in their products.

Legislation is pending in Washington to ban bisphenol A in food containers, and the FDA is taking another look at the science supporting its toxicity to humans. Let's hope that this time, the hundreds of voices decrying the use of this harmful chemical will drown out those few who support it.

Bisphenol A: A Toxic But "Safe" Chemical?

Two years ago, a warning regarding the toxicity of bisphenol A, or BPA was endorsed by scores of scientists, including four members of federal health agencies. According to an article by the Los Angeles Times, this document was published online by the scientific journal Reproductive Toxicology. Approximately 700 studies were reviewed, and the findings were dire: Almost everyone is exposed to levels of this chemical over and above those found to cause harm to lab animals. As is usually the case with toxic chemicals, infants and fetuses are most at risk.

At this point in time (August 2007), no restrictions on the use of BPA were in place anywhere in the world. The publication of this consensus of opinion, however, seemed to be sparking an effort in the United States to consider regulating the chemical, something that the industry wanted to avoid at all costs.

This was certainly not the first time I had heard of the deleterious effects of bisphenol A. Over 20 years ago, I started having disruptions in my monthly cycle. I went to my doctor, who had no answers but wasn't overly concerned. Luckily, I read an article in a magazine not long after about an estrogen-mimicking chemical called BPA and the effects it had on women's menstrual cycles. We immediately stopped buying bottled water in the hard plastic containers, switching to opaque gallon jugs. The problem resolved itself right away! Obviously, the effects of BPA have been known for many years.

This past spring, I read another article about bisphenol A, this time in regards to industry's plan to brainwash the public into thinking that BPA is safe. This chemical is big business, apparently, and industry hacks would rather spread lies saying it is not toxic than bother trying to find alternatives.

How are they getting away with this? Tune in tomorrow!