BPA Controversy Won’t Die

With so many companies in the promotional products industry utilizing hard plastics for products such as water bottles, children’s cups and other beverage items, the issue of polycarbonate promotions containing Bisphenol A (BPA) is one that just won’t go away. The chemical, which some say is linked to issues such as neural and behavorial development. While the Canadian government banned such plastics in the production of baby bottles and food containers in April 2008—becoming the first government to take any sort of action on the issue—the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been slower to act.

At stake is the claim infants and newborns could experience adverse health effects from eating and drinking from containers manufactured with BPA. In fact a month after the Canadian government took action a U.S. National Toxology draft report found some concern that BPA may just put children at risk, stating children could have problems including issues with “prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.”

Despite this, in October 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a report finding BPA was safe for use.

Unfortunately for manufacturers and suppliers in varying industries, and perhaps thousands of children, a recent investigation by The Washington Post found the FDA report may be flawed.

According to the article, “The Food and Drug Administration ignored scientific evidence and used flawed methods when it determined that a chemical widely used in baby bottles and in the lining of cans is not harmful, a scientific advisory panel has found.”

Is the issue still on the table? We’ll keep you informed.

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