Comments on: Study Finds BPA Associated With Heart Disease http://the-health-gazette.com/1037/study-finds-bpa-associated-with-heart-disease/ Your interactive source for health news, views and reviews Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:55:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Editor http://the-health-gazette.com/1037/study-finds-bpa-associated-with-heart-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Editor Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:05:00 +0000 http://the-health-gazette.com/?p=1037#comment-180 Australian health authorities, like the FDA, claim that BPA poses no health risks. It is unclear whether they actually think for themselves or consider research that conflicts with their judgements. When approached by Choice, a major Australian consumer organisation, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) had restated its position that BPA and phthalates posed no significant health risks at the low levels found in food but said it was planning to review its approach to regulating food packaging materials. Choice said there was now enough sound scientific evidence "to raise genuine concerns that BPA and some plasticisers can cause health problems - even at the very low levels to which we are currently exposed". Choice acknowledged the threat level from these substances was uncertain but questioned the necessity of taking any risk, particularly with young children. It added that continued use of phthalates and BPA was no longer needed as safer alternatives were now available. The consumer organisation said that plastics as a whole did not present a risk but highlighted two chemicals whose molecules are small enough to migrate from packing into food. It said BPA in polycarbonate bottles and the epoxy linings of food cans was a chemical that industry players should seek to eliminate from their products. The group also raised concerns about plasticisers in PVC, such as phthalates and DEHA (di-(2-ethyhexyl)adipate, used in the manufacture of bottles, cling wrap and the seals for screw-cap jars. It said such plasticisers can make up 40 per cent of the plastic material. "While these compounds are undoubtedly hazardous at high levels of exposure, scientific opinion is divided over the risk from the much lower levels that we’re exposed to every day in our food," according to a Choice statement. "There is, however, growing scientific evidence that even at these lower levels of exposure, phthalates and BPA may be causing problems such as infertility, obesity, breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease and diabetes." Filling the breach by FSANZ, Choice advised consumers to steer clear of plastics with the identification codes 3 - for PVC - and the catch-all category of 7. Choice also said to avoid fresh meat and vegetables wrapped in cling film, stating: "Most cling wrap sold for domestic use is now made from low density polyethylene (4), which seems to be safe," said the group. "But supermarkets and many independent butchers and greengrocers are still wrapping meat and fresh vegetables in cling wrap made from PVC." Australian health authorities, like the FDA, claim that BPA poses no health risks. It is unclear whether they actually think for themselves or consider research that conflicts with their judgements.

When approached by Choice, a major Australian consumer organisation, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) had restated its position that BPA and phthalates posed no significant health risks at the low levels found in food but said it was planning to review its approach to regulating food packaging materials.

Choice said there was now enough sound scientific evidence “to raise genuine concerns that BPA and some plasticisers can cause health problems – even at the very low levels to which we are currently exposed”.

Choice acknowledged the threat level from these substances was uncertain but questioned the necessity of taking any risk, particularly with young children. It added that continued use of phthalates and BPA was no longer needed as safer alternatives were now available.

The consumer organisation said that plastics as a whole did not present a risk but highlighted two chemicals whose molecules are small enough to migrate from packing into food. It said BPA in polycarbonate bottles and the epoxy linings of food cans was a chemical that industry players should seek to eliminate from their products. The group also raised concerns about plasticisers in PVC, such as phthalates and DEHA (di-(2-ethyhexyl)adipate, used in the manufacture of bottles, cling wrap and the seals for screw-cap jars. It said such plasticisers can make up 40 per cent of the plastic material.

“While these compounds are undoubtedly hazardous at high levels of exposure, scientific opinion is divided over the risk from the much lower levels that we’re exposed to every day in our food,” according to a Choice statement. “There is, however, growing scientific evidence that even at these lower levels of exposure, phthalates and BPA may be causing problems such as infertility, obesity, breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease and diabetes.”

Filling the breach by FSANZ, Choice advised consumers to steer clear of plastics with the identification codes 3 – for PVC – and the catch-all category of 7. Choice also said to avoid fresh meat and vegetables wrapped in cling film, stating: “Most cling wrap sold for domestic use is now made from low density polyethylene (4), which seems to be safe,” said the group. “But supermarkets and many independent butchers and greengrocers are still wrapping meat and fresh vegetables in cling wrap made from PVC.”

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