Some kind of resolution may be thought to exist since the FDA finally produced a somewhat anti-BPA finding from its review of the chemical. It is anti-BPA right? Well, at least on the surface it would appear so. Kind of.
After a presumably extensive review of recent research findings — it certainly took long enough to have been extensive — the FDA stated on January 15 that its position now is that BPA is of “some concern”. Industry groups represented by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) seized on this insipid finding, noting that the FDA did not find the chemical to be unsafe. However, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) claimed that this represents a reversal by the FDA and signifies the beginning of the end for BPA.
It does seem that the FDA wants to have its cake and eat it too. There is enough scientific evidence for the FDA to act decisively against BPA. To do so would be to aptly discharge its duty to protect consumers. Unfortunately, the FDA always seems overly concerned with the industry side of the story. Are there no other armies of bureaucrats to pander to business and molly-coddle the economy?
The FDA is playing games. It claims the present BPA regulatory system “limits the oversight and flexibility of the FDA”. Instead the FDA proposed that companies voluntarily submit products containing BPA for scrutiny to the Food Contact Notification Program (FCNP). Since 2000, all new food contact substances have been regulated under this system. The FDA said it believed this program was “more robust and appropriate for the oversight of BPA than the current one”. How does that saying go, about shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic? This is about the appearance of taking action while not really achieving much at all.
Little wonder the Europeans are amused and confused as they observe the FDA’s bisphenol-A game. The UK Food Standard’s Agency (FSA) said its position remained unaffected in the wake of the FDA update and that it was supporting reasonable steps to cut the chemical from the food supply. Which, of course, is code for not doing much at all really.
The fact is that one cannot offload responsibility for one’s own health onto others. It is unwise to simply trust that the health regulating bureaucrats will always both know what is right and do it. Frequently they fall short in both areas. You must protect yourself and the health of your own infants and children and one thing you can do is to avoid exposure to BPA.
Tags: bisphenol A, BPA