On March 16, 2009, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Edward Markey introduced legislation that would ban bisphenol A (BPA) from food and beverage containers. Currently, there are no government safety standards limiting the amount of BPA in canned food. BPA is found in reusable plastic containers and the lining of soda cans and canned food containers. It is associated with a number of health problems and diseases that are on the rise in the U.S. population, including breast and prostate cancer and infertility. In September 2008, the National Institutes of Health's National Toxicology Program (NTP)declared that BPA, shown in laboratory tests to disrupt the endocrine system, may alter brain development, cause behavioral problems and damage the prostate glands in fetuses, infants and young children. So then why is this chemical so pervasive in our in our environment? BPA has been used in consumer products since early in the 20th century. It's use is well established and has been effective for the purposes it was intended for, but with a grave cost. More than 100 peer-reviewed studies have found BPA to be toxic at low doses, some similar to those found in people, yet not a single regulatory agency has updated safety standards to reflect this low-dose toxicity.
What can you do?
-when possible avoid #7 plastics, especially for children's food, plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are safer choices and do not contain BPA
- do not microwave anything in a plastic container, use ceramic or glass instead
-limit consumption of canned foods including canned drinks
-all U.S. manufacturers use BPA-based lining on the metal portions of the formula containers, if your baby needs liquid formula look for types sold in BPA-free plastic or glass containers
-look for stainless steel water bottles that do not have a plastic liner
-call or write your legislators to support this bill and push is through!
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