01.US regulator reinforces BPA concerns
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement calling for more research into the possible harmful effects of bisphenol A (BPA), reinforcing growing concerns about its safety.
BPA is a chemical that can get into our food from polycarbonate bottles — in particular bottles marketed for use by infants and small children — and food packaging, and from some epoxy resins used to line cans. The food industry and plastics manufacturers maintain that BPA poses no significant health risks at the low levels found in food, but there’s growing scientific evidence that the chemical may be causing a number of health problems, with infants and small children particularly at risk.
Until now, regulators worldwide have generally supported the food and plastics industries’ position. But the FDA is now urging the US food industry to phase out BPA-based plastics for food use, especially for baby bottles and the linings of infant formula cans. It’s also supporting a more robust regulatory framework for oversight of BPA.
Meanwhile, the Australian regulator, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), continues to maintain there are no significant health risks from BPA in food packaging.
See our full report on Plastics and Food.
1 Sep 2009
|
There’s a booming market in products tailored to babies and toddlers, but CHOICE found many are simply unnecessary.
24 Jul 2003
|
If you don’t breastfeed your baby you’ll need to choose a formula; cow’s milk shouldn't be used as the primary milk drink in the first year of life.
7 Jan 2010
|
There’s a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests some plastics are not as safe as we're led to believe.
12 Jun 2008
|
In our test of food in glass jars, half contained the plastic-softening chemicals epoxidised soybean oil or phthalates at levels exceeding EU limits.