The Dangers of BPA

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an ingredient found in most plastic products. It’s found in polycarbonate plastics, which makes up most of the plastic stuff we use every day. Baby bottles, canned foods, cups, and water bottles all contain BPA.

This past January, the FDA admitted that BPA poses a health risk, especially to young children and unborn infants. Although they state that BPA has an adverse effect on our children’s brains, prostate glands and behavior, they still haven’t banned its use.

Also, scientific studies have been performed that link BPA exposure to breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, reproductive disorders, behavior problems and the early onset of puberty.

So why won’t the FDA ban the use of BPA? They say it’s because there aren’t any substitutes. Hmmmm….I think that if more parents knew about the dangers lurking in their infant’s plastic baby bottles, or in the can of powdered formula, they would want, even insist upon, getting rid of it. But that’s just me…

Unfortunately, because it was listed as an “indirect food additive,” manufacturers are not required to report its use in products. This makes it extremely hard to regulate. Basically, the safety of our children is wrapped up in bureaucracy; who knows how long it will take to get it all straightened out?

As a matter of fact, a bill to ban BPA usage in baby products such as bottles, sippy cups, and formula cans was shot down by the Senate this past July. Several states have successfully passed similar bills, including New York, Vermont, California, Washington, Connecticut, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Interesting that states are working to keep our children safe, but the federal government isn’t.

Further reading:

http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/07/02/californias-struggle-over-the-chemical-bpa-continues/

http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/81901927.html

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