FDA May Change Stance and Rule that BPA is Dangerous for Kids | DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, Esquire

Earlier this spring, we informed our readers that Canada has restricted the production of plastic baby-bottles, containers, and cups manufactured with a chemical  known as BPA, or bisphenol-A, which some experts say cause “breast, prostate and reproductive system abnormalities and some cancers.”  To read this earlier blog, please click here.

Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union both continued to say the chemical is safe despite what experts were advising, the AP reported yesterday that the FDA is reviewing its 2008 ruling that the “much-debated chemical . . . used in baby bottles and food containers, is safe for infants.”  Last year, the agency ruled that “trace amounts of” BPA “that leak out of bottles and food packaging are not dangerous,” but the FDA’s “own advisers faulted the report for relying on a small number of industry-sponsored studies.” Meanwhile, “consumer advocates said it ignored dozens of animal studies suggesting the chemical can interfere with infant hormone levels” by mirroring “the effects of the hormone estrogen, potentially interfering with young, growing bodies.” FDA spokesman Michael Herndon, commented that “the agency’s chief scientist, Dr. Jesse Goodman, was recently asked to “take a fresh look at this important issue from a scientific and policy position.” In a statement, Herndon said that Goodman “intends to review all the data, listen to people on all sides of this issue, and talk to experts inside and outside of the federal government.” He added that the review will be completed in “weeks, not months”.

We hope the FDA fulfills its promise and acknowledges the dangers of BPA.  Infants and children are vulnerable and need protection. We encourage you to carefully choose which products you purchase and aim to buy only those products that pose no health-risk at all.

Our firm has experience pursing cases for children and adults who have been harmed by defective products.  If you think you have been injured by a defective product, we encourage you to click here or contact us at Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at (202) 463-3030.