FDA to Protect Babies and Bottles
June 14th, 2012 tmccoy
Joining Canada, France and Denmark, the FDA will finally take a step to remove BPA – - a toxic substance used in hardening plastic – - from infant formula containers and baby bottles. A proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register and invite comment in the next 90 business days.
Though the rule will only affect the use of BPA in infant formula containers and baby bottles, consumers have already been sensitized to looking for the presence of BPA in such diverse products as refillable water bottles. The sponsor of the ban, Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts, called the ban a step towards making feeding time for parents and babies much safer. He hopes that this will “close the door on the use of BPA in infant formula forever.”
Markey also has three petitions filed demanding that the FDA extend the BPA ban to other products. Major food and beverage manufacturers, like Coca-Cola, Pepsi and ConAgra Foods, had opposed the BNA ban.
Researchers have found that BPA is so common in household products that fully 90% of the U.S. population has in their bodies. BPA has been linked to many health problems, including cancer, reproductive problems and heart disease. The United States has been slow in banning BPA. Canada banned it in 2008 and Denmark in 2010. Various states have already banned it as well.
