BPA Legislation

In my former life I worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide. I don’t miss the partisan bickering, constant lobbying by myriad differing groups or the late nights when votes went well past dark. What I do miss is the inside track on legislative or the “story behind the headlines” on different issues. I read with interest this weekend that there is legislation in the United States House of Representatives and Senate to completely ban bisphenol A (BPA) in all food and drink containers, an expansion of legislation last year that would have banned BPA only in infant and children’s items. A fairly new environmental issue, BPA-awareness has recently come into prominence for its link to certain cancers, hormonal issues and developmental damage. I am hoping this legislation is headed toward passage. Despite public and private support for limiting or banning BPA in products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that it is safe while it continues to study the issue. Yet many manufacturers of plastic bottles, infant items and sippy cups have voluntarily stopped using BPA and proudly display “BPA-free” tags on their items. The latest news is that Sunoco, which produces gasoline and chemicals, will completely halt production of BPA in items used for children under the age of 4. I don’t know about you, but it makes me wonder if something that is unsafe for a three year old should be used for my five year old, myself or any one of any age for that matter. Want to know more? Need a good BPA information website? Check out Safemama.com. Sometimes I feel as though I am fighting a losing battle against trying to keep my family completely safe from environmental and health threats. Organic foods, local foods, BPA free items, preservative-free food are all good things, but I also sometimes wonder…what will we find out next? Am I the only one who wonders this? SPC
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