Aug. 18 – US FDA: Bisphenol A found in plastic bottles is safe

From CBC News:

Despite ongoing safety concerns from parents, consumer groups and politicians, a chemical used in baby bottles, canned food and other items is not dangerous, federal regulators in the U.S. said Friday.

Food and Drug Administration scientists said the trace amounts of bisphenol A that leach out of food containers are not a threat to infants or adults. The plastic-hardening chemical is used to seal canned food and make shatterproof bottles. It also used in hundreds of household items, ranging from sunglasses to CDs…

The agency previously declared the chemical safe, but agreed to revisit that opinion after a report by the federal National Toxicology Program said there was “some concern” about its risks in infants. Based on a review of animal studies, the government working group said bisphenol can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, and that it may reduce survival and birth weight in fetuses…

Canada has announced its intention to ban the use of the chemical in baby bottles. In the spring of 2008, many retailers in Canada said they were ridding their stores of products containing bisphenol A.

U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to ban bisphenol in children’s products.

Click on the above link for the full story. A PDF of the draft report is available here.