U.S. FDA Says BPA Found In Polycarbonate Items Is Safe

In the wake of nationwide rejections of plastic products containing bisphenol A, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday declared the synthetic chemical to be safe in amounts typically found in food and beverage containers.
According to national media reports, the FDA has drafted an assessment that says the amount of bisphenol A, or BPA, released by polycarbonate plastic during average use does not pose a health hazard. The draft is expected to be reviewed by FDA advisory committee members in mid-September.
BPA can make plastics shatterproof, an appealing characteristic for items such as baby bottles and sports bottles. Still, after several studies by government scientists and university researchers revealed BPA's potentially negative impact on human health, the polycarbonate bottles began to be pulled from store shelves and promotional product lines.
Stan Breckenridge, MAS, PPAI chair and president of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania-based Moderne Glass Co., says the FDA's latest finding confirms his company's original position.
"Our position has always been that polycarbonate bottles were indeed safe products," says Breckenridge. "We posted on our website ongoing information relative to expert and credible testaments that products with BPA were time-tested safe. However, due to consumer concerns, we now offer 56 SKUs of bottles that are BPA-free.
"We will continue to inform our distributors about product safety and address any and all erroneous misleading reports," he adds. "The FDA endorsement may be considered the premier authority on the matter and should be accepted by our industry and its clients."
(Source: PPB Newslink August 18)

See also: Bisphenol A sparks debate by D. Joe Schwarz, Ph.D. and One On One (Message from the President)