The FDA was forced to make a decision on bisphenol A (BPA) after a lawsuit was filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental health nonprofit. In October 2008, the NRDC filed a petition asking the FDA to decide whether the harmful chemical should be permitted. The agency didn’t respond for three years, so NRDC’s lawyers recently took the FDA to court.
Here’s what the FDA says about its decision: “The FDA denied the NRDC petition today because it did not provide the scientific evidence needed to change current regulations,” says FDA spokesman Douglas Karas in a prepared statement. “But this announcement is not a final safety determination and the FDA continues to support research examining the safety of BPA.” The agency went on to say that, although they have been studying the effects of BPA for years, none of their existing studies show enough evidence to force them to change their official position on the chemical’s safety. That’s hardly reassuring to NRDC public health scientists. “BPA is a toxic chemical that has no place in our food supply. We believe the FDA made the wrong call,” says Sarah Janssen, senior scientist at NRDC. “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.” The chemical has come under increasing scrutiny over the past few years, after dozens of independent studies have linked BPA to health issues such as infertility, behavioral issues in children, certain types of cancer, heart disease, and even obesity and diabetes in adults. The BPA And Heart Disease Connection One positive development in recent years is that despite the lack of a ban on BPA, the chemical has already been removed from nearly all major brands of baby bottles, sippy cups, and other food containers intended for babies and children. However, “removing BPA from baby bottles and infant formula cans doesn’t protect pregnant women who are eating canned food and exposing their infants to BPA,” Janssen says. Or the rest of us. Until the government takes action against BPA, here’s how you can reduce your exposure: Skip canned goods. Even though some major brands have already switched away from using BPA-based liners in their canned goods due to consumer pressure, most have not. Plus, BPA-free cans may become contaminated with BPA because both versions are often made in the same plant, says Janssen. Bypass the issue by buying your food in glass jars or in aseptic cartons (the cartons used for boxed soups and soy milks). Avoid plastics. Many No. 7 plastics contain BPA, but other plastics contain different harmful compounds, too. Your best bet is to avoid plastic whenever possible, and never heat plastic in the microwave or run it through the dishwasher. Use glass or ceramic dishes to cook and store your food, and use stainless steel dishes or biodegradable paper plates for outdoor activities. Just say “no” to receipts. Your skin readily absorbs the BPA coating from cash register receipts, so if you’re buying a cup of coffee or something else you don’t need a receipt for, skip it. If you work in a store at the cash register, wear BPA-free plastic gloves. Also see: 7 Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips, What You Need To Know About GMOs
