Defenders of BPA—the synthetic estrogen linked to breast cancer and birth defects that’s used in plastics and food-can lining—have had a really bad couple of weeks.
Last Friday, notes from a May 28 BPA industry PR strategy session were leaked to the press. Fascinating tidbits include their idea to use “fear tactics” to scare the public into opposing efforts to restrict the chemical’s use, and how great it would be to get the “holy grail” of spokespeople, “a pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA.” The notes go on to say that “legislatively, the committee is focusing on [defeating bills in] Connecticut and California…[by] befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process.”
So far, their (very pricey) efforts have failed. Last week, the Connecticut legislature nearly unanimously passed a bill that will ban BPA from food and beverage containers designed for kids 3 and under. The bill now awaits the governor’s promised signature. Today the California Senate passed a similar bill, which is now on its way to the state Assembly.
Another blow to the BPA industry was today’s announcement by the Food and Drug Administration that it will review its safety assessment of the chemical. This signals a new era at the F.D.A., which has weathered a lot of criticism (even from its own scientific advisory panel) for ignoring the science on BPA. A recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative report also exposed that under the Bush administration the F.D.A. sought advice and counsel from the BPA industry. Looks like the cozy relationship might be over.
It’s really heartening that the power of big bucks and bad intentions are losing. And that the movement to reduce our exposures to this chemical is growing and gathering momentum. Onward!
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