After the controversial decision by the FDA in 2008 declaring bisphenol-A or BPA completely safe, the agency will now take another look at the substance, according to a report by the New York Times. The FDA said it had “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children,” at a friday news conference. The decision follows a statement of concern made by the National Institute of Health’s National Toxicology Program after the FDA’s initial decision in 2008.
BPA is a widely used chemical in many plastics and can be found in some water bottles, food packaging, and children’s toys. It is a known endocrine disruptor, mimicking hormones when in the body. A number of studies on animals have raised safety concerns due to links to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and reproductive disorders. Additionally, many other human studies have confirmed the presence of BPA in over 90% of test subjects.
Furthermore, Consumer Reports just recently published their tests on canned foods and found high levels in BPA in nearly all products. Eden Organic’s bean products were the only product to contain negligible amounts of the chemical.
References:
Grady, Denise. “In Reversal, U.S. Expresses Concern Over Additive to Plastics.” The New York Times. 15 Jan. 2010. Web. 16 Jan. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/health/16plastic.html>.
“Industry reacts to Consumer Reports’ BPA report.” Consumer Reports Electronics Blog. 6 Nov. 2009. Web. 16 Jan. 2010. <http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2009/11/industry-reacts-to-consumer-reports-report-on-bisphenol-a-bpa.html>.
“Testing for BPA: Concern over canned foods.” Consumer Reports Electronics Blog. 2 Nov. 2009. Web. 16 Jan. 2010. <http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2009/11/testing-for-bpa-concern-over-canned-foods-.html>.
