America Need Protected from the Effects of BPA in Food Packaging, Say Members of Congress
The U.S. needs to step up it’s regulations on BPA (bisphenol-A), the controversial chemical found in common food packaging. That’s the plea from two members of congress and one senator seeking to protect Americans from the effects of BPA.
Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Grace Meng (D-NY) are asking Congress to take more aggressive steps in regulating the chemical used in a number of food packages including aluminum cans and bottles.
The FDA has already put a ban on BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups and packing used for infant formula. But Markey, Capps and Meng say that’s not enough to protect consumers from the effects of BPA. Countries including France, China and Canada have stricter bans on BPA citing the risks to human health. And just last week, a report released found 175 chemicals in food packaging to be toxic, including BPA. The report noted that many of the chemicals continue to leach into the food for the duration of time they’re in contact with each other.
“The dangers of BPA have been well demonstrated,” they wrote. “Exposure, even at minimal levels, has been linked to numerous health problems, including breast cancer, altered fetal development, infertility and behavioral changes.” Adding that in order to fully protect children from exposure to BPA, “we must also protect pregnant women and all of the foods they and young children may ingest.”
The three introduced the Ban Poisonous Additives Act in 2013. If foods were in containers that included BPA, the food would be considered adulterated under the act, notes Food Safety News. “The BPA Act currently has 21 cosponsors and is supported by numerous public health and cancer advocacy organizations, along with organizations representing workers who handle BPA on a daily basis such as the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, the United Steelworkers and the United Automobile Workers.”
“Banning BPA from food and beverage containers is common sense,” the three wrote, “everyone will be safer for it.”
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