The latest on Bisphenol A

I've been following the BPA debate for awhile now and it looks like California is not going to place BPA on their list of hazardous substances. They are also not going to be warning consumers: (those without internet, I guess) Health Canada, however is studying the effects of BPA on babies focusing on the coatings used on metal lids used for glass baby food containers. According to the study the levels found were quite low, like an average level of .18 ng/gram. By the way, a nanogram is one billionth (10^-9) of a gram. France is looking to completely ban the chemical in consumer packaging. (There is a login to read the article)

The Boston Globe last Tuesday published a story warning parents to avoid bottles with BPA as posing a danger for children.

Meanwhile, just when you thought you were safe, BPA Free labels may not be true according to this story. I guess you can't believe anything that you read.

The FDA maintains that the chemical is safe. Studies are starting to vet out that food and beverage containers made of polycarbonate do not pose a health risk to humans.

Banning the chemical based on current studies would be a hardship for the packaging & food industries that use the chemical. Whole Foods Market has a BPA policy and is working towards limiting and removing the chemical where they are able.

So the debate continues and so does the confusion. Consumers are going to have to avoid buying processed & prepackaged food; It is nearly impossible to avoid this chemical in the market place.