January 15: What are described as ‘reasonable steps’ are being taken to reduce human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in the food supply by the US Food and Drug Administration following the results of recent studies using “novel approaches to test for subtle effects”.
The FDA announced today in a telephone press conference that BPA, a chemical used for the manufacture of epoxy-phenolic can coatings and polycarbonate drinking bottles, would be the subject of further investigations by the National Centre for Toxicological Research. The announcement had been expected since November.
But the FDA is not recommending that families change the use of infant formula or foods, as the benefit of a stable source of good nutrition outweighs the potential risk from BPA exposure, it said.
The North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA), which represents the canmaking industry, said it supported the FDA’s move to continue its research and evaluation of BPA.
