Grocery Manufacturers Association: FDA Once Again Reaffirms Safety of Bisphenol A (BPA) for All Consumers

    No Need for Consumers to Change Purchasing or Eating Patterns



    WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 /EMWNews/ -- In a statement released

today in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's most recent

Bisphenol A (BPA) draft risk assessment, Dr. Robert Brackett, chief science

and regulatory affairs officer for the Grocery Manufacturers Association

(GMA), reassured consumers about the safety of BPA

(http://www.gmabrands.com/publications/SciPol_Bisphenol.pdf):



    "We welcome the FDA's draft BPA risk assessment, as its findings - once

again - support the overwhelming body of scientific evidence that confirms

the safety of BPA in food packaging for all consumers.



    "BPA has been safely used in food contact applications for 50 years and

plays an essential role in keeping foods safe and fresh. Based on the

entire body of scientific evidence, and the findings of the FDA and

numerous health authorities and researchers, consumers can continue to

safely enjoy foods and beverages in the many forms of packaging provided,

including those that contain BPA, without changing their purchasing or

eating patterns.



    "The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety

Authority (EFSA) Authority, and Health Canada have all recently evaluated

and affirmed the safety of BPA.



    "Several other prominent international bodies have also agreed with FDA

regarding the safety of BPA. These include the World Health Organization,

Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission; the

European Chemical Bureau of the European Union; the European Scientific

Panel on Food Additives, Flavorings, Processing Aids, and Materials in

Contact with Food; and the Japanese National Institute of Advanced

Industrial Science and Technology."



    For more information on BPA click here:

http://www.gmabrands.com/publications/SciPol_Bisphenol.pdf.



    The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world's

leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The association

promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase

productivity and growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the

food supply through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is

comprised of chief executive officers from the association's member

companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods

industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in

added value to the nation's economy. For more information, visit the GMA

Web site at http://www.gmaonline.org.