Statement

American Chemistry Council Comments on Consumer Reports Study

The following statement can be attributed to Steven G. Hentges, Ph.D., of the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group of the American Chemistry Council (ACC):

ARLINGTON, VA (Nov. 2, 2009) — “The American Chemistry Council (ACC) members develop, test and obtain regulatory approval for a variety of food contact products designed to keep food safe and fresh. Epoxy resins made from bisphenol A (BPA) are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to line food and beverage cans in order to help prevent corrosion, contamination and food spoilage, and to provide a shelf life of two years or more. 

The recommendations from Consumer Reports’ unnamed experts are inconsistent with the conclusions of expert regulatory bodies worldwide, all of which have confirmed that BPA exposure levels are low, and well within safety standards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, typical human exposure to BPA, including through canned products, is approximately 1,000 times below government safety limits. 

Eleven global regulatory bodies—including the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada—have recently completed scientific evaluations and found BPA safe in food-contact products, including canned foods and beverages. A recent study funded by EPA, published just last week in Toxicological Sciences, found that exposure to BPA—including very low doses—had no effects on a range of reproductive and behavioral activities measured. 

ACC believes that Food and Drug Administration’s current assessment of the science, including all relevant data and scientific studies, is in the public’s best interest, and we support the current review under way at FDA. ACC’s member companies that produce BPA remain committed to openly and transparently sharing with the government and the public relevant environmental, health and safety data needed to complete a thorough review of BPA. We look forward to the completion of FDA’s review and their science-based guidance.”

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