Safety Of Baby Bottle Chemical Questioned

Panel: FDA's Conclusion That BPA Is Safe "Creates A False Sense Of Security"

(CBS/ AP)  The Food and Drug Administration's assurances that a controversial chemical is safe for use in food containers are badly flawed, an independent panel of scientific advisers concluded in a report released Tuesday.

The chemical, known as bisphenol A, is used to make plastic for food packaging, baby bottles and other consumer and medical goods. Environmental groups want to ban BPA in products for infants because of concerns that it can interfere with their development.

"What's most alarming is that infants that are fed liquid formula, the total diet for the first six months of life are the ones that suffered the greatest risk, the most exposure to this toxin," Dr. Olsen Barrin told CBS' The Early Show.

But the FDA recently said that there is no harm from the low doses of BPA that babies, children and most adults get by eating foods from containers made with the chemical, reports CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver.

"The continued use of Bisphenol A in the manufacture of food contact substance is concluded to be safe," the FDA's Laura Tarantino said in September.

Asked by the agency to review that conclusion, a panel of outside advisers delivered what amounts to a scientific rebuke.

"The margins of safety defined by FDA as 'adequate' are, in fact, inadequate," said the report, a copy of which was provided to The Associated Press. The advisers found that the FDA had not considered all available, credible scientific evidence, and urged the agency to essentially go back to the lab.

The report came as a welcome surprise to environmentalists and their supporters in Congress. Citing some of the advisers ties to industry, critics had initially questioned the objectivity of the panel.

"Despite the concerns about their objectivity, (the panel) agreed with the many independent scientists that questioned FDA's initial assessment on BPA," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who chairs a committee that oversees the agency's budget. The report "is reinforcing the position that the FDA should restart the BPA evaluation process."

The report will be discussed at a meeting of the FDA's science board Friday, but what it will mean for consumers was not immediately clear. With the advisers saying more studies are needed, the FDA is unlikely to move quickly to restrict the use of BPA. Concerned consumers, however, can reduce their exposure by avoiding plastic containers imprinted with the recycling number 7, as many of these contain BPA.

"The panel was very clear, but we don't know if the FDA is going to listen," said consumer activist Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women & Families. "If they do, it could be a couple of years before they do anything. The FDA's assessment should have been done right the first time. Now it's going to have to be redone."

The FDA had no immediate comment on the advisers' report, but administration officials said it shows the agency is open to second opinions, even critical ones.

The worries about BPA come from the fact that it can mimic the effects of estrogen, a powerful hormone. While the kidneys of mature children and grown-ups quickly eliminate the chemical from their bodies, newborns and infants may retain it for longer periods. Babies can be exposed to BPA through infant formula packaged in containers made with the chemical.

The advisers' report faulted the FDA for relying on relatively narrow studies in rats to reach its conclusion that low doses of BPA are safe. Instead, it urged the agency to take into account a much broader range of scientific literature, including a recent study that raised suspicions about a link to heart problems in adults.

The FDA's approach "creates a false sense of security" and "overlooks a range of potentially serious findings," the report said.

The advisers also concluded that FDA scientists' margin of safety for BPA was off, too generous by factor of 10 times or more.

The chemical industry urged the FDA to expedite a final scientific verdict on BPA.

"If the agency determines that existing margins of safety are insufficient in infant (products), our member companies that manufacture BPA will put processes in place to promptly phase out the use of materials containing BPA in baby bottles and infant formula packaging," the American Chemistry Council said in a statement.

[pollroller1]

The FDA is the greatest agency that money can buy.

[gop_will_win]

Shut up you liberals!

[ioweign]

Shut up you liberals!

Posted by gop_will_win at 08:45 AM : Oct 29, 2008



gop_will_win proves Bisphenol A inhibits development...

[adt13t]

wake up america
class warfare is constant and only
gets headlines when the middle class
grumbles about fair play.
this is anothert example of the billionare
elites control of government at your expense
The sellout of the FDA to big Pharma and others
who profit heavily without true/real protective
oversite $$$$$$
bendover pawns unite and assume the
rapture position-
head in the sand a/s/s in the air-
or was that praise allah?

[bjgaylord]

If the agency determines that existing margins of safety are insufficient in infant (products), our member companies that manufacture BPA will put processes in place to promptly phase out the use of materials containing BPA in baby bottles and infant formula packaging," the American Chemistry Council said in a statement.

O.K. Just curious. If there is even the potential that BPA is harmful to infants, and the manufacturers have a means to remove BPA from the products, why not just do it? Afraid a bottle or package might cost a penny more to make? I am used to being raped by my government and my financial institutions, but a penny a product to make it safer is worth it to me.

[drinuk]

It is unbelievable that neither organisations are warning of the dangers that exsist from using these containers in MicroWave Ovens, especially in warming up babies feeding bottles.

[gearhead1000]

gop_will_win, could you be more of a mindless sheep? Friggen tool. Now shut up and go drink your Bisphenol A

[credibility2]

If this chemical is harmful, it should be banned, not only for those things used for kids, but all humans. As an adult, I''m sick and tired of the emphasis always being placed on the safety of something for the kid, when it''s an issue for all humans. No human, regardless of age or stage of development should be placed in harm''s way by any ingredient or product known to be harmful. Period.

[lochlan-2009]

This chemical COULD be dangerous to the babies who drink from them. Are you going to give it to your children? We all know the FDA cares about corporate profits, not the American people.

[andsab]

They do still make and sell glass baby bottles. I''d rather be safe than sorry, NEVER trust the government!

[buttonjockey]

It astounds me that the FDA has played favorites with the AMA, the pharmaceutical companies and big business for many decades now and our cries for reform have gone ignored. The FDA has a long list of dubious decisions and there''s no oversight of this arm of the government. It is the common person who pays for it.

[cbscrash072]

The science involving drugs and chemicals and their interactions with the body is still very primitive. This will lead to controversial decisions. You can not count on the government to protect you because they do not have the proper tools and test methods yet. Use glass bottles or the ones with the plastic liners. If in doubt ask your mother. Use what she used after all you turned out OK.

[erasmus81]

"Use what she used after all you turned out OK."

Posted by cbscrash072 at 08:05 PM : Oct 29, 2008

Yes, I did turn out ok. But I''m not so sure about everybody else. There''s a lot of whackos running around out there.

No one should be eating or drinking ANYTHING that has been in plastic. We need to go back to making everything out of glass.

Never put a plastic water bottle in the freezer. It releases the toxins into the water.

[indianaman13]

Reagan, Rumsfeld, and republicans destroyed all credibility at the FDA.

go to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy

[drinuk]

Get used to it, The FDA is owned lock stock and barrel by Big Pharma, Big Chem and anyone else who lines their pockets, gets big favours done and then gives those crooked officers jobs for life. Get used to it or seriously do something about it.