Monday, April 26, 2010

Using the Food Safety Bill to Ban BPA

I sent the following letter to my senators. If you believe in the importance of this issue, I urge you to do the same:


I am writing in support of the amendment proposed by Senator Dianne Feinstein that would add a provision to ban bisphenol-A from food and beverage containers to the Food Safety Bill (HR.2749).

As the mother of a 5-month-old girl, I am very concerned about this issue. I have read studies that link this chemical with obesity, cancer, and reproductive problems. I want to do everything possible to provide healthy meals for my family, but find it very, very difficult to avoid this chemical. At the very least, containers should be clearly labeled if they have a bisphenol- A lining.

For example, my daughter was prescribed vitamins to supplement her diet. I want to follow the doctor’s recommendations, but cannot find the liquid vitamin in a container that is not a suspect plastic.

I am also concerned with reports that this bill will unfairly target local and artisanal food producers. I ask that a provision also be added that will protect small producers from undue burden while still tightly regulating the industrial food system and food imports.

Thank you very much for your time.