News 30.09.10
European Food Safety Authority refuses to accept BPA health warnings
After months of delay, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has failed yet again to reduce the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDA) for Bisphenol A, a component of shatterproof polycarbonate plastic found in many food and drink containers including babies’ bottles.
Exposure to BPA has been linked to breast and prostate cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and the hyperactivity disorder ADHD.
Breast Cancer UK has been spearheading a campaign in the UK warning of the risks of BPA. Its Chair, Clare Dimmer, said: “We are deeply disappointed by this outcome. The EFSA has chosen to ignore the evidence of hundreds of independent scientific reports spanning 20 years of research that shows damage to health created by very low level exposure to BPA. It would seem that commercial interests have once again trumped the rights of ordinary citizens to a healthy future.”
A number of countries, including Canada, France, Denmark, Sweden and Taiwan, have declared BPA to be toxic and hazardous to health.
Clare Dimmer added: “Our No More BPA campaign will continue until this public health issue has been acknowledged. We urge the UK Government to ignore the EFSA and take the initiative by banning the use of BPA in baby and toddler products throughout the UK.”
Further information
Contact Clare Dimmer, Chair, Breast Cancer UK T 023 92261208 M 07779 5646890
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk www.nomorebpa.org.uk
1) EFSA www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1829.htm A Minority Opinion is attached to the end of downloadable opinion pdf
2) Corporate Europe Observatory www.corporateeurope.org/lobbycracy
3) UK Food Standards Agency www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/sep/bisphenol
4) FoodBev.com www.foodbev.com/news/efsa-updates-advice-on-bisphenol-a