Oct

29

FDA Ignored Evidence of Harm Regarding BPA Ruling

Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A | Comments Off

From the Washington Post today:

In a highly critical report to be released today, the panel of scientists from government and academia said the FDA did not take into consideration scores of studies that have linked bisphenol A (BPA) to prostate cancer, diabetes and other health problems in animals when it completed a draft risk assessment of the chemical last month. The panel said the FDA didn’t use enough infant formula samples and didn’t adequately account for variations among the samples.

Taking those studies into consideration, the panel concluded, the FDA’s margin of safety is “inadequate”. The panel is part of the Science Board, a committee of advisers to the FDA commissioner, and was set up to review the FDA’s risk assessment of BPA.

I can’t even begin to express my utter frustration with the current state of Bisphenol-a in food packaging and baby products and this just solidifies the fact that this chemical has no business being near our food and that the FDA didn’t take real scientific evidence into consideration when they carelessly said it was safe.

Canada just recently declared BPA a dangerous toxin and has banned its use in childrens products.

Read the article on WashingtonPost.com

Oct

20

State Attorney Generals Call for BPA Ban

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The attorney generals in New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware are urging makers of plastic bottles to eliminate the use of BPA in their production.  Letters were sent to 11 manufacturers.

“I am alarmed by recent studies confirming that BPA leaches from these products into the foods they hold,” Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said in the letters.

The request for a voluntary recall may not be as strong an action as some states have tried, but with more and more companies starting to phase out products that contain BPA, every bit of pressure helps.  You can find the full article here.

Source: Associated Press

Oct

16

FDA Investigating Donation to Scientist Heading BPA Advisory Panel

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I’ve come down with another miserable cold so I am really behind on a couple things I meant to post this week.  This might not be new news for some because I’ve seen it around but I thought it was worthy of mentioning here too.  And then I’m going back to the couch to wallow in my stuffed up achiness.

The FDA Wouldn’t Take Bribes Would They? HA

I got an alert in my email a few days about a possible “scandal” involving the FDA and An Bisphenol-a advocate Charles Gelman, a medical supply manufacturer.  Apparently Mr Gelman made a sizable donation to the University of Michigan’s Risk Science Center in the sum of $5 Million.  The acting director of The Universtiy of Michigan’s Risk Science Center is Martin Philbert who also happens to be the head of the FDA advisory panel that is supposed to deliver an independent risk assessment of BPA.  Interesting!

Gelman says that Bisphenol-a is perfectly safe and is only being questioned “because worries about the chemical were being exaggerated by ‘mothers’ groups and others who don’t know the science.“  Does that include the National Toxicology Program, The Universtiy of Cincinnati, and the Journal of the American Medical Asoociation too?  They’re a bunch of moms who don’t know the science?  Ok.

Federal officials are investigating.  We’ll see…

Sources: JS Online, Associated Press

Oct

12

University Study Says Bisphenol-A May Disrupt Cancer Treatments

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I saw this study around but our friends at The Soft Landing blogged it yesterday so I wanted to point it out.  In yet another study, this one from the University of Cincinnati says that like estrogen, Bisphenol-a may actually protect cancer cells, making cancer treatments less effective.

The new University of Cincinnati study says that Bisphenol-A may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments. Bisphenol-A seems to bolster proteins that protect cancer cells, according to the research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Scary and yet another straw on the camels back.  Evidence is accumulating and soon the FDA will have no choice but to consider it in their evaluation.

Found at The Soft Landing, article from The Daily Green.

Here is a bit from the University of Cincinnati:

“BPA does not increase cancer cell proliferation like DES does,” she says. “It’s actually acting by protecting existing cancer cells from dying in response to anti-cancer drugs, making chemotherapy significantly less effective.”

…

These data,” study authors write, “provide considerable support to the accumulating evidence that BPA is hazardous to human health.”

Read the article regarding the study from University of Cincinnati for more details.

Sep

25

Similac SimplePac: Is It BPA Free? We Can’t Tell.

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Safety | Comments Off

I intended to answer the burning question “Does the new Similac packaging contain BPA?” in Dear SafeMama yesterday.  But after I spoke with Similac®, I decided it warranted it’s own post because frankly, I am getting tired of trying to decipher their carefully orchestrated responses.

Here is what we know and what Similac is allowing us to know.  The new SimplePac™ container and lid is made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which indicated to me that the plastic container itself is BPA Free.  That much I know.  Here is where it gets tricky.  The representatives I spoke to, and I spoke to at least 3 because they kept transferring me when I pressed them for more information, will say this and only this:

“No portion of the container that comes in contact with the formula contains BPA.”

See the part I underlined?  That’s what concerns me.  They will not deviate from this scripted statement that I am sure their very expensive legal team created for them.  After the second rep transferred me to Pam, the Customer Relations representative specialist or whatever, I pressed further because I am not satisfied unless they say “Yes Ma’am, rest assured the whole thing is BPA Free.”

I asked Pam about the foil seal that typically is present in formula containers to preserve the product on the shelf.  I had no idea if this product even had one, but she confirmed it does.  She would not however provide me with any information regarding the foil seal, what it was made of and whether or not the foil is coated with an epoxy resin.  Many times those coatings do contain BPA.  She told me:

“We don’t have any information about that, I’m sorry.” And refused to delve any further claiming ignorance and denying she had any information to give me on the matter.  No information?  That sounds weird considering the company most CERTAINLY knows what its made of and whats on or not on it.   They don’t have any information they want parents to know is what it really means to me.

The main problem I have with their statement is that I don’t know what “comes in contact with the formula” means if they are being so strict in what they tell consumers.  Does it mean “only if you don’t turn it upside down so the formula doesn’t rest on the foil seal” count too?  Their resistance to disclose the materials on the foil seal makes me wonder.

Pam informed me that I should encourage our readers to call Similac if they have any questions.  Do go ahead and do that SafeParents.   Similac has a toll free number 1-800-232-7677 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., CST/CDT.  They would rather tell you, the ignorant consumer who doesn’t understand what HDPE is, themselves and bank on the fact that no one will ask the questions we really want answers to.

Bottom Line: To answer the original question “Is the new Similac SimplePac packaging BPA free?”  The answer for now is “Maybe.”  Or in Similac’s words “the part that comes in contact with the formula” is.

Sep

24

Dear SafeMama: Steambags Edition

Filed Under Dear SafeMama, Food Safety | Comments Off

Q: Do you all know if the plastic microwavable bags that frozen veggies come in are safe?

While technically, steamable bags are FDA approved and considered safe, I decided to give a call to Birds Eye to find out exactly what their SteamFresh bags are made of.   The representative told me that while they don’t contain BPA or PVC, they are a #7 plastic due to the fact that their Steamfresh bags are comprised of a mixture of plastics.  She didn’t have the information on exactly which plastics were used in making these bags, but she did say that it’s multiple resins laminated together and they’re NOT recyclable.  Awesome!  I totally want to microwave my food in that!

Listen, I know that we’re all busy and we live in a country where we thrive on convenience and instant gratification.  Most of us have jobs making it necessary to take shortcuts, but really, it only takes a few extra seconds to dump your frozen veggies into a Pyrex dish and throw it in the microwave.     Not to mention, cheaper.   Those Steamfresh bags are expensive!  Why not save yourself some extra money in these tough economic times?

We here at SafeMama have always recommended to microwave in glass or ceramic.  Never ever microwave in any kind of plastic, even if it’s listed as microwave safe.   All plastics have leaching capabilities on some level and it took how many years for people to realize that BPA wasn’t safe.  Who knows what they’ll find out about other plastics in the coming years.   It’s up to you to decide of the risk is worth it, but if you want our opinion, it’s not.

Sep

23

Consumer Beware: Get your BPA Information from the Source

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Food Safety, Product Safety | Comments Off

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while but only until a reader wrote in to let us know about a great “BPA Free” find did I find the hook I needed to effectively write this.  A reader (thank you to our lovely readers!  We adore you!) wrote in to let us know she found out that Little Bear Snack Foods packaged their canned bean dips in BPA Free cans.  And right there on their website it said,

“The cans are made from steel. We know we do not use biphenyl A.  The cans are lined with a food grade material.”

I was enthused that we may have found another canned food aside from Eden’s Organic Beans that were packaged in BPA Free cans.  The misspelling of the term Bisphenol-A had me a little worried though so I wrote in to the company to confirm.  After a day or two I got back an email from the parent company, Celestial-Hain, stating that BPA was safe, and approved by the FDA and that their cans only have trace amounts that would cause no harm to humans.  I’ll paste their full response below.  I was confused that they had a statement on their site (which I just noticed has since been removed) that they do not use BPA and they’d sent me information confirming their packaging does contain BPA.

I wrote back again to gain some insight but of course, I have not gotten a response back from the company.  It’s unfortunate a company was so misinformed or felt the need to misinform their customers in order to gain their trust.

This is the lesson I so desperately needed some of our readers to learn.  Find out for your self. I am by no means saying you can’t trust anyone.  There are many of us out here on the Internet striving to provide valid, correct and useful information regarding BPA and its safety.  That said, I think it’s extremely important that you not take everything you read at face value.  Write to these companies, ask questions, verify suspicions, educate yourself. The more noise these companies hear from consumers, the sooner our BPA Free options will increase.

I know many of our readers have been calling in to companies to find out the BPA status of products and reporting back here to us.  We’ve gotten many more emails letting us know your findings in the past few months.  (THANK YOU!) That means more of you are taking things into your own hands instead of relying on the Internet.  For that, I want to applaud our SafeMama Readers for taking the extra steps to get accurate information.  Keep it up SafeParents!

Here is the response I received from Celestial Hain:

M. Scoleri,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding our Little Bear Product. We strive to maintain the highest quality products and appreciate your patronage.

Most metal food and beverage packaging has a thin coating of an epoxy containing BPA on the interior surface. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound used in most metal food and beverage packaging. The interior surface of the can has a thin coating of an epoxy containing BPA, which protects public health by preventing corrosion of the can and contamination of food and beverage by not coming in contact with the metal. This is one of the very few FDA approved coatings that will provide the safety and shelf life that consumers expect from our products. Tests have indicated that trace amounts of BPA may be present in these can coatings. The minute amounts detected are well below levels deemed to be of concern for public health according to the FDA. The United States Center for Disease Control and The American Council on Science and Health, along with other Regulatory agencies worldwide, have extensively researched Bisphenol A and concluded there is no risk to human health. All coatings that come in contact with our products undergo stringent testing and comply with US Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

As one of our valued customers, your satisfaction is very important to us and we will share your comments with our Leadership Team. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-434-4246, Monday through Friday from 7AM - 5PM Mountain Time.

James

Consumer Response Representative  | Ref # 1726130

Sep

19

Some Sassy Products Contain BPA

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Safety | Comments Off

We were disappointed to hear that some Sassy products contain BPA, in spite of their previous reassurances that they do not. Thanks to our friends at The Soft Landing, we were made aware of this new development.

Sassy has confirmed that the following do actually contain BPA:

  • Extra Gentle Soft Tip Spoon - BPA in handle
  • EZ Grip Feeding Bowl and Color Change Spoon - BPA in spoon
  • Snack Time Infa-Trainer Cup - BPA in cap over straw
  • Flexi Grip Toddler Fork and Spoon
  • Color Change Fork and Spoon

The Soft Landing has previously sold some of these items as BPA-free and they are immediately offering an exchange or store credit for anyone who has bought these products from them. You can contact them regarding returns at sassyrecall [at] thesoftlanding.com.

They are encouraging Sassy to issue a manufacturer’s recall for these products, and we agree with that. If they originally sold these as BPA-free and now concede that they aren’t, they should offer a refund to anyone who requests it. While we’re certainly glad that Sassy admitted there was an error, this is a serious blow to their credibility.

Sep

16

FDA Continues to Back BPA Safety

Filed Under Bisphenol-A | Comments Off

This is getting old.  The FDA met today to revisit the safety status of Bisphenol-a in consumer products.  I am not shocked that they still back it’s safety, although they do admit that more research is needed.  So the FDA says keep on exposing yourself to it and hopefully your kids don’t develop fertility or metabolic problems.

“A margin of safety exists that is adequate to protect consumers, including infants and children, at the current levels of exposure,” Laura Tarantino, a senior Food and Drug Administration scientist, told an expert panel that has been asked for a second opinion on the agency’s assessment of BPA.

Gee, thanks for keeping an eye out for us.  Coincidentally, today another study was released to coincide with the FDA’s reassessment linking BPA to heart disease, diabetes and liver problems.  The study, done by The Journal of the American Medical Association “shows that higher urinary concentrations of BPA were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities.” (Source: JAMA)

More and more evidence builds regarding the effects of Bisphenol-a on humans, the list of effects building to a ridiculous number of potential ailments and long term diseases including but not limited to: reproductive damage, metabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, liver problems, high blood pressure, infertility, low sperm counts, possibly linked to breast cancer … the list goes on and on.  The FDA says you’ll be fine though… so keep buying those canned goods!  (Please detect my sarcasm.)

Source Articles: USA Today, The New York Times, Journal of American Medical Association

Sep

16

Another Reason to Avoid BPA

Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A | Comments Off

A SafeMama reader tipped us off to a new study being done regarding the safety of BPA (thanks SafeMama reader).  While the FDA is being paid off to maintain that BPA is safe at low levels, a new preliminary study being done out of London further proves that BPA should be banned.  From Ottowa Citizen:

A study has for the first time linked a common chemical used in everyday products such as plastic drink containers and baby bottles to health problems, specifically heart disease and diabetes.

“The study, while preliminary with regard to these diseases in humans, should spur U.S. regulatory agencies to follow recent action taken by Canadian regulatory agencies, which have declared BPA a ‘toxic chemical’ requiring aggressive action to limit human and environmental exposures,” Frederick vom Saal of the University of Missouri and John Peterson Myers of the nonprofit U.S.-based Environmental Health Sciences, wrote in a commentary accompanying the study.

Again, while this is a preliminary study, this is another great step in the right direction to banning BPA.  Hopefully.  FDA is meeting as we speak to re-evaluate the safety of this chemical.

Source: OttowaCitizen.com

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