FDA gets slap on the wrist over chemical BPA

The conclusion by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) that the widely used chemical bisphenol-A, or BPA, is safe has been slammed by a panel of experts.

BPA is used to make plastic food containers such as baby bottles and cans for food and there have been concerns about its widespread use because of suggestions the chemical can leak out.

BPA mimics the effects of estrogen, a powerful hormone and while the kidneys of mature children and adults quickly eliminate the chemical from their bodies, newborns and infants may retain it for longer periods.

Babies can be exposed to BPA through infant formula packaged in containers made with the chemical but according to the FDA it is safe.

A report from the FDA in August saying BPA is safe at current levels found in plastic baby bottles and canned foods, has prompted criticism from lawmakers and scientists who say the FDA relied largely on industry-funded studies in contradiction of over 100 studies suggesting BPA is harmful to humans.

The FDA then asked a panel of scientific experts to review its August report and they have disagreed with the FDA's decision to dismiss many other studies on BPA.

The panel delivered the equivalent of a scientific slap on the wrist and said that the FDA conclusions are not supported by data and science and the studies dismissed by the FDA "raise additional and unsettling concern."

The report says the FDA's approach creates a false sense of security and overlooks a range of potentially serious findings and advises the FDA to consider all available, credible scientific evidence and essentially restart the BPA evaluation process.

The FDA says this raises important questions and agrees that due to the uncertainty raised in some studies relating to the potential effects of low-dose exposure to bisphenol-A, additional research would be valuable, and is apparently already planning research to address the potential low-dose effects of BPA.

This incident is bound to re-fire questions about the FDA's judgement and its handling of the BPA debacle.

Using a 'spot of spin' the FDA says the events show the agency is open to second opinions, even critical ones.