The food safety legislation being considered by the senate may face an uphill battle as industry groups, like the US Chamber of Commerce, are considering withdrawing their support of the legislation if the bill contains a ban on the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in food and beverage containers, which, as Lyndsey Layton reports for the Washington Post, is a controversial chemical that studies have found is connected to health problems like cancer, developmental, and reproduction problems.Still, the industry is holding strong in their position. Layton reports that business groups sent a letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee (HELP) Chairman Tom Harkin (IA) and Ranking Member Mike Enzi (WY) informing the senators that the groups oppose Diane Feinstein's (CA) amendment that would ban BPA from containers.
Layton quotes Scott Faber, vice president for federal affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, as stating, "'We will not support food safety legislation that bans or phases out BPA from any food and beverage container [.]"
The food safety legislation in question would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wider authority to regulate food production "and place greater responsibility on manufacturers and farmers to produce food free from contamination." Layton writes that the bill has bipartisan support and the backing of the White House, but the stance taken by the industry could throw a monkey wrench in any plans to bring the bill up sometime in the next few weeks.
Food safety legislation also faced challenges in the House. One of the primary concerns from farm-state lawmakers in the House was how much authority the FDA will have over on-the-farm practices and their ability to issue quarantines.
Layton reports that BPA is used in thousand of consumer products American's use on a daily basis. These include compact discs and credit card and ATM receipts. Health advocates primary concern is BPA in containers that hold food and beverages can "leach" into the products they contain. "It is found in the urine of 90 percent of the U.S. population, according to federal estimates."'
Currently the government is studying the health effects of BPA. The FDA is currently conducting a study, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to conduct a study on BPA, and the National Institutes of Health are conducting a study that will cost $30 million over the next two years.
In addition to the food safety bill, both Rep. Edward Markey (MA) and Senator Feinstein (CA), along with Senator Schumer (NY), have introduced stand-alone bills that would ban the use of BPA in baby bottles, sports bottles, reusable food containers, infant formula and food can liners. As Layton reports, this legislation is the model for the amendment to the food safety bill Feinstein wants to pursue.
To read the Layton article in the Washington Post online, click here.
Posted: 04/26/10
