Expert Panel Disagrees with FDA Position on Safety of Chemical BPA

A independent panel of outside advisers to the FDA have concluded that the agency’s statement that the plastic bottle chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is safe for use in consumer products does not consider all available and credible scientific evidence.

Bisphenol A, commonly referred to as BPA, is a chemical used to manufacturer shatterproof polycarbonate, a type of plastic. For years, it has been commonly used in baby feeding bottles, the inner linings of soda cans, food storage containers and water bottles.

In recent years, concerns have emerged about the health effects of BPA, as reports have indicated that trace amounts of BPA that leaches out of the containers and contaminate the food and water inside.

Did You Know?

Ticketmaster Data Breach Impacts Millions of Customers

A massive Ticketmaster data breach exposed the names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers and other personal information of more than 560 million customers, which have now been released on the dark web. Lawsuits are being pursued to obtain financial compensation.

Learn More

While most adults and older children effectively excrete BPA in their urine, preventing build up of toxic amounts, some experts have suggested that very young children could accumulate BPA over time, resulting in chronic toxicity. Since BPA mimics the action of natural estrogen, excess amounts may affect the reproductive, immune and neurological development of infants.

In response to the emerging concerns, the FDA released a statement in August 2008 indicating that BPA was safe for use in baby feeding bottles and other consumer products, as the amounts of the plastic bottle chemical used were too small to be toxic.

An advisory panel of outside experts was convened by the FDA to discuss the potential health concerns surrounding BPA on September 16, 2008. According to a report released by the advisory panel on Tuesday, the experts stated that “the margins of safety defined by FDA as ‘adequate’ are, in fact, inadequate.”

The panel indicates that the FDA has not considered all of the available credible scientific evidence. The agency has been urged to undertake more research on BPA and the health effects it has on humans.

In a statement released by the FDA, the agency indicates they intend to review the advisory panel’s report at a meeting of the Scientific Board tomorrow. However, they stood by their position that the “current levels of exposure to BPA through food packaging do not pose an immediate health risk to the general population, including infants and babies.”

As a result of the FDA’s prior failure to take any actions to limit or ban the use of BPA in the United States, the attorney generals of several states sent letters last month to manufacturers of baby products, such as Playtex Products Inc., Handicraft Co., Disney First Years, Gerber, Avent America Inc., and Evenflo Co., and formula makers Nature’s One, Mead Johnson, Abbott, Wyeth and PBM Products, asking them to stop selling baby products containing BPA.

In Canada, the government announced last week that regulations are being drafted to ban the use of BPA in any baby feeding bottles due to the potential health concerns surrounding the polycarbonate bottles.

0 Comments

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Zimmer Biomet CPT Hip System Linked to Increased Risk of Thigh Bone Fractures, FDA Warns
Zimmer Biomet CPT Hip System Linked to Increased Risk of Thigh Bone Fractures, FDA Warns (Posted today)

The FDA has issued a safety communication warning that Zimmer Biomet CPT hip system femoral stems may increase the risk of femur fractures, calling for doctors to avoid its use when possible.

Change Healthcare Data Breach Lawyers Meeting Today With MDL Judge For Initial Status Conference
Change Healthcare Data Breach Lawyers Meeting Today With MDL Judge For Initial Status Conference (Posted yesterday)

The judge presiding over all Change Healthcare lawsuits filed in federal court is holding the first status conference of the litigation, which is expected to grow significantly as Change Healthcare data breach letters continue to be sent to impacted customers.

Angiodynamics LifePort Lawsuit Filed Over Risk of the Port Catheters Failing, Causing Severe Injury
Angiodynamics LifePort Lawsuit Filed Over Risk of the Port Catheters Failing, Causing Severe Injury (Posted 2 days ago)

Complaint comes as a panel of federal judges are scheduled to hear oral arguments later this month, to determine whether all AngioDynamics port catheter lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts nationwide should be centralized before one judge.