FDA to Re-Examine Ruling on BPA

Chrissie Cole

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is reconsidering its ruling on the safety of bisphenol-A, or BPA, a chemical found in plastic baby bottles and hundreds of other plastic products.

The New York Times reports that there was so much criticism of its August decision that the amount of bisphenol-A in containers and baby bottles did not pose a health risk that the FDA has decided to re-examine its ruling.

The chemical is used in thousands of everyday consumer items including food and beverage containers, shower curtains as well as in some medical devices. BPA mimics the hormone estrogen and may disrupt the body's endocrine system. People ingest it when it leaches from plastics into water, food or baby formula.

More than 130 studies, over the last decade, have linked BPA to diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, neurological problems and other health disorders. Much of the newest research suggests that chemical can have an effect even at very low doses – lower than those currently set by the FDA.

Canada has already added BPA to its toxic substances list.

The FDA has not given a timetable as to when they plan to proceed with its BPA re-examination.