The widely used chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogen-mimicker. Some 200 animal studies have suggested that the substance is very harmful. Over 90 percent of Americans show some BPA in their “body burden”.
It is especially hard to avoid BPA since it is used in plastic containers and food liners and is even used to make the coating on the receipts we get at stores. For most urban residents, the handling of these receipts is thought to be the number one source of BPA in the body. About 2 billion pounds of BPA are produced in the United States each year.
Last year ANH-USA filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration warning of the widespread use of BPA in dental sealants for children (these sealants are literally painted on the teeth), composite fillings, and orthodontery. The FDA has responded to the petition with dismissive silence.
Fortunately, Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) is taking the fight to the Food Safety Bill by trying to offer an amendment banning the substance in food containers. This has stirred up a hornet’s nest among industry associations. The Grocery Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have threatened to withdraw support for the bill if an anti-BPA amendment is added.
If you are curious about how much BPA would be reduced in our bodies if the use of the chemical was banned from the lining of food containers, it is significant. In the late 1990s Japanese companies removed the chemical from any direct contact with food. The efforts resulted in a 50 percent reduction in BPA levels in Japanese citizens who were tested.
We strongly support Senator Feinstein’s proposed amendment to the Food Safety Modernization Action (S. 510) to ban BPA from food containers and hope it will be added to the bill. If the amendment is offered and time permits, we will notify our readers and ask that you support the amendment. We have also been in communication with the senator’s office about the importance of removing BPA from children’s dental sealants and fillings and from orthodontery. We do not support the Senate Food Safety Bill, but it will almost certainly pass and this amendment would make it better. We are especially opposed to the House version of the Food Safety bill which has already passed. We intend to work as hard as possible to keep the noxious house provisions from being adopted in the final version of the bill that must pass both House and Senate.
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Get rid of bpa in food containers. It’s about time that the US actually puts the people’s interest above big business.
Perhaps this is one reason the Japanese are more healthy than other parts of the world, they
have consideration for their people!
I wholeheartedly SUPPORT a BAN on this terrible substance! It’s time to stand up to these chemical companies!!!!!
Strongly support BPA ban in foods and plastic bottled waters and other drinks.
It is very important to support Senator Feinstein’s proposed amendment.
If the Japanese are that far ahead of the US in banning this substance then there must be some serious evidence/proof that it is harmful. We CAN do something about this – stop using BPA and stop it now, not in a year, or two, or three. Harmful substances require immediacy, not the usual foot-dragging.
Yes! A BPA ban is long overdue!
The FDA doesn’t want to do anything about BPA but they want to deny us raw milk which is a perfectly healthy, wonderful and delicious food. It doesn’t make sense.
The FDA is supposed to keep us healthy but it doesn’t want to do this and we are using our hard-earned money to pay their salary. For what?
Kudos to Feinstein. We don’t want chemicals in food.
why stop at food containers, go all the way, screw the the manufacturers, I’m tired of our government poisoning us for a profit
You just talk like a crazy person. A perfect voter for Diane whose ignorance on the topic could apparently fill volumes. Absolutely nothing useful was said above about the Japanese tests. There should be numbers and statistics involved. Anyone believing this kind of thing, without evidence, is just part of the problem. Undoubtedly can coatings, of various types, were developed to have safer food more widely available. Only recently has science developed to where some hints of BPA related problems are known. Taking a blind jump backwards could open up food supply and purity issues as well. Let me guess…is it possible that you think “organic” means “good” (what about strychnine, snake venom, etc.) and “chemical” means “toxic and bad” (what about lifesaving drugs and pesticides to kill malaria spreading mosquitos?). Think globally. Act sanley.
How many people have died from the so called life saving drugs? How have water supplies been poisoned by pesticides in third world countries where their corrupt governments make money at the expense of their people? Think local ,solve problems local then share globally what works in their own region ! ? How many third world countries have been poisoned and harmed by raping their land and forcing man made chemicals down their throats at what cost? Yes Ban BPA from our food supply! How many people must endure sickness due to this harmful substance? I cannot Breath when I enter a room that someone has cleaned with pine scented liquid,as well as some air freshers that are used in public restrooms. why?> Several family members are highly sensitive to artificial scents used in cleaning products and perfumes.
This Bill should be inclusive for all people. It may not be perfect, but we should give something a try.
I support Senator Feinsteins proposed amendment to the Food Safety Modernization action (S510)
I stopped using 90 % of plastics food items in my home and have found a substantial reduction in sicknesses in my household especially my body is reacting more normal. I have lost weight and gained memory.
I am especially opposed to the House version of the Food Safety bill which has already passed. Please keep the noxious house provisions from being adopted in the final version of the bill that must pass both House and Senate.
Thank you
Thank you. This sounds like the right way to go.
To think that Japan banned this BPA ten years ago and it reduced the chemical in people’s bodies by 50% and the FDA has done nothing! Disgusting.
Senator Feinstein,
Thank you so much for going after those destroyers of the planet. I hope they pay and get
much needed oversight. Good luck, Senator!
I support Senator Feinstein’s proposed amendment to the Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) to ban BPA from food containers and hope it will be added to the bill. I am especially opposed to the House version of the Food Safety bill which has already passed.
WELL THANK YOU DIANE FEINSTEIN FOR FINALLY DOING SOMETHING. BPA OS A MAJOR CAUSE OF BREAST CANCER IN WOMEN…..WOMEN NEED TO READ LABELS IN HAIR SHAMPOO AND FACIAL PRODUCTS AND SKIN LOTIONS AND SOAPS……SOONER OR LATER THE WORLD WILL COME TO BELIEVE NATURAL HEALTH CLAIMS AND PRODUCTS TO SECURE THEIR OWN LIFE AND THOSE THAT THEY LOVE.
PLEASE BLOCK HENRY WAXMAN’S SNEAKY COVERT PROVISION IN THE REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT H.R. 473…..ONE MORE TIME THIS IS PHARMACUTICAL COMPANIES
TACTIC TO MONOPOLIZE PROFITS FOR THEIR PHONEY ALL NATURAL FOOD SUPPLEMENTS IN DRUGS STORE, GAS STATIONS, AND CORNOR MARKETS THAT CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE HEART ATTACKS AND CAUSE ACCUMULATING EFFECTS IN THE JOINTS AND KIDNEY’S.
SHAME ON WAXMAN AND CONGRESS THAT ALLOWS THIS TO CONTINUE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
RECALL HENRY WAXMAN!
AMEN! WE KNOW WHERE WAXMAN AND ALL THE WASHINGTON POLITICO CRONIES GET BIG MONEY! BOTH DEM AND REP NO DISTINCTION FROM THE TWO PARTIES EACH CAN TAKE EQUAL BLAME! FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL TO DC!THE FUNDS TO POWER HIS POLITICAL MACHINE AND THE DEATH CARE INDUSTRY! OOP”s! I MEANT THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY ! BIG PHARMA,CHEMICAL CO. THE CANCER INDUSTRY< AS WELL AS THE LAWYERS! MONEY IS TO BE HAD TO KEEP PEOPLE SICK!
IT IS TIME TO RECALL HENRY WAXMAN FOR HIS COVERT ACTIONS.
BPA nor any other chemical has a place in the food industry, and that includes BGH. Don’t those people ever consider that the effects of these chemicals is showing up in the steep rise in all cancers, heart disease, diabetes , etc. over the last several decades?
You got my support on this issue. ANYTHING that is harmful to us whether ingested or otherwise HAS TO BE BANNED period.
It breaks my heart to know that dentists are using BPA in our childrens mouths. I just don’t understand why some people refuse to awaken to what is going on. Well, I guess I do understand, it is all about money. That is the bottom line. To bad, so sad, for all of us. Dr. K
I agree with all the posts here that something needs to happent to get these toxic chemicals banned from human exposure.
Certichem Labs tested the replacements for BPA and found all of them estrogenic, some worse than BPA. So a plastics company sued the lab and got a gag order on their test, but by then copies of it got out on the internet. All the common types of plastic were affected. So now our cans, food containers, TetraPaks, etc that use reformulated plastics & claim they’re safer – AREN’T. Such is industry’s response to the BPA controversy…
Bottom line is just because something is labeled “BPA-free” doesn’t mean it’s safe or not estrogenic!
Caveat Emptor!