FDA Rejects Call to Eliminate BPA from Food Packaging

In rejecting a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the agency emphasized it was not making a final determination of BPA’s safety and instead will continue to examine the ongoing research of BPA’s effects on health.

2 Apr 2012 --- The Food and Drug Administration said it would allow bisphenol A (BPA) to remain in food packaging, an action that keeps the hormone-disrupting chemical linked to cancer, obesity and a host of other health problems in the food supply.

In rejecting a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the agency emphasized it was not making a final determination of BPA’s safety and instead will continue to examine the ongoing research of BPA’s effects on health.

The following is a statement from Dr. Sarah Janssen, senior scientist in the public health program at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“BPA is a toxic chemical that has no place in our food supply. We believe FDA made the wrong call.

“The agency has failed to protect our health and safety ­ - in the face of scientific studies that continue to raise disturbing questions about the long-term effects of BPA exposures, especially in fetuses, babies and young children.

“The FDA is out-of-step with scientific and medical research.  This illustrates the need for a major overhaul of how the government protects us against dangerous chemicals.”