BPA regulations need urgent attention: CPR

The US Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) has urged US authorities to urgently address Bisphenol A regulations.

Commonly known as BPA, the chemical is used in food packaging such as epoxy linings in cans, re-usable bottles and plastic food and beverage containers. The CPR is concerned about the negative health implications of using BPA in food packaging, claiming that it can make its way into food that is then consumed.

In a media release, the CPR said: “It’s also what’s called an endocrine disruptor, because it mimics the effects of critical hormones in the body, causing a variety of negative health effects in research.” The CPR expressed concerns that BPA may affect human reproduction, as it has disrupted reproduction in animals.

The CPR made recommendations for several US authorities. It called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to increase testing and tighten regulations for BPA use, particularly in infant formula packaging. It also recommended warning labels, permissible exposure limits and specific use parameters be applied.

In Australia, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has acknowledged consumer concerns about BPA use in food packaging and notes that Canada, the EU and several US states and counties have banned the use of BPA. A voluntary phase-out of BPA inclusion in polycarbonate baby bottles has been introduced by the Australian government.

However, FSANZ concludes that “the weight of scientific evidence indicates that exposure to BPA in food does not present a significant human health and safety issue at current exposure levels”.

The CPR quotes: “One study found BPA in the urine of 95% of adults who participated in a Centers for Disease Control & Prevention screening program,” stating that BPA can cause damage at very low doses.

In response to the claim that BPA is frequently found in human urine, FSANZ said: “This result is expected and does not mean that people are exposed to unsafe levels of BPA because BPA is rapidly inactivated and then excreted in the urine.”

How the US handles these recommendations from the CPR may impact Australian regulations for BPA, particularly if it prompts further consumer pressure for BPA-free packaging.