The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it has no plans to review its stance on bisphenol A (BPA), but will continue to research the chemical found in food packaging.
BPA is used in certain packaging materials such as polycarbonates for baby food bottles. It is also used in epoxy resins for internal protective linings for canned food and metal lids.
A recent study by a team of UK researchers found that higher concentrations of the chemical in urine were linked with heart disease, type 2 diabetes and liver enzyme abnormalities.
And, in September, scientists from the US National Toxicology Programme said that effects on reproductive development from BPA in packaging cannot be ruled out.
The FDA, in a letter to independent scientific reviewers, said that it is re-evaluating available data, and planning to source additional information so as to strengthen the exposure estimates from all dietary sources of BPA, particularly those relevant to infants and children.
The letter was the first response to criticism of the FDA by its own advisory board last month which maintained that the food safety regulator ignored evidence suggesting BPA in baby bottles and formula cans could be damaging to children.
The review of the Science Board's subcommittee concluded that the margins of safety in the FDA’s draft assessment on BPA in regard to the risks of infant exposure to the chemical were “inadequate.”
Source: FoodProductionDaily.com
Latest from Quality Assurance & Food Safety
- FDA Releases Produce Regulatory Program Standards
- Invest in People or Risk the System: Darin Detwiler and Catalyst Food Leaders on Building Real Food Safety Culture
- USDA Proposes Increasing Poultry, Pork Line Speeds
- FDA Releases New Traceability Rule Guidance
- TraceGains and iFoodDS Extend Strategic Alliance
- bioMérieux Launches New Platform for Spoiler Risk Management
- SafetyChain Receives SOC 2 Type 2 Certification
- Puratos Acquires Pennsylvania-Based Vör Foods
