Movement afoot to silence BPA concerns
Mon, Jun 01 2009 at 12:00 PM EST
A few months ago, Congress announced that it would consider passing a bill to ban the use of bisphenol-A, or BPA, in food and drink containers. But that bill will never see the light of day if a certain group of BPA advocates has their way. According to the Washington Post, manufacturers of cans for beverages and foods and some of their biggest customers have been meeting privately to discuss a strategy to block a federal ban of BPA.BPA is added to plastics to make them stronger. It is commonly found in rigid plastic bottles and the linings of tin cans. Over the past decade, study after study has highlighted the dangers of BPA, linking the chemical to breast cancer, testicular cancer, diabetes, hyperactivity, obesity, heart disease, low sperm count, miscarriage and other reproductive problems.
Last year, Canada banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and earlier this month, the city of Chicago became the first city in the nation to ban BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups. Several states have similar legislation pending.
Instead of researching the alternatives (Japan has significantly reduced its use of BPA in many canned goods,) BPA advocates are hanging on to this sinking ship and spending their time and money to devise a strategy and public relations campaign that would silence these concerns about BPA. According to the article in the Washington Post, industry executives are weighing ideas that use financial fears and dated health information to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging.
Do they really think that the public is stupid enough to fall for a pro-BPA campaign that turns a blind eye to science and plays on people's fears?They're betting $500K that we are. Let's prove 'em wrong.
Photo courtesy of m00by
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Comments
View:BPA Products
Posted By RoyGee - Tue, Jun 02 2009 at 10:44 PM ESTI can'r seem to find a site that gives a list of products that have BPA used in them. I have good reason to find out as I am immunosurppressed due to a lung transplant. Can someone out there help me out here?
Roy
REI Bottle BPA free
Posted By Anonymous - Mon, Jun 01 2009 at 8:16 PM ESTThe bottle pictured is now manufactured of BPA free materials as are all bottles carried by REI.
Thank you for your article re BPA in cans
Posted By Safer Cans - Mon, Jun 08 2009 at 7:34 PM ESTHi Jenn
Thanks for your article. Please join our campaign at http://www.twitter.com/safercans
We want to keep canned food and beverages safe and healthy. Please join our campaign to encourage the canning industry to invest in safer alternatives to protect the food supply and stop using BPA.