U.S. Allows the Use of Bisphenol A in Food Packaging

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected the US Natural Resources Defense Council’s prohibition on the use of bisphenol A in food packaging at the end of March due to the failure to find sufficient research data to prove the potential danger of using bisphenol A in food packaging. petition. But this does not mean that the controversy surrounding bisphenol A will end.

Bisphenol A is mainly used to synthesize materials such as polycarbonates and epoxy resins. Since the 1960s, polycarbonate produced from bisphenol A has been used to make rigid plastic bottles and suction cups for infants. At the same time, almost all food and beverage cans use epoxy resin on their inner walls. coating. In recent years, whether the use of bisphenol A in this area is toxic or endangers people's health has always been the focus of controversy. The US Natural Resources Defense Council submitted a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as early as October 2008. They stated in the petition that the human body inhaled bisphenol A and may cause endocrine disorders. Bisphenol A has a particularly large impact on the health of infants and young children. However, the evidence provided by the committee in the petition is not enough to persuade the US Food and Drug Administration to give a related ban.

At the end of March this year, David H. Dole, Deputy Commissioner of Policy Planning at the US Food and Drug Administration, said in a letter of rejection to the Natural Resources Defense Council that the Food and Drug Administration is currently focusing on the implementation of bisphenol A in food packaging. Review, collect and collate the latest research data. The Authority must ensure the implementation of power, but also have a certain degree of supervision, but also to review the new reliable research data to ensure the smooth implementation of the new policy. Any research data on bisphenol A may affect the agency's final assessment of this material and future regulatory efforts. "But according to the current data, the Authority temporarily cannot promulgate the ban on BPA."

Because bisphenol A can affect the balance of human endocrine, people have long been afraid of it. At present, other studies have found that bisphenol A can also cause obesity and even induce cancer. Although the relevant departments of governments of various countries in the world have publicly stated that the content of bisphenol A used in food packaging materials is very low and it is safe, but it does not stop consumers from calling for alternatives. Manufacturers also feel that Deep pressure.

John Roster, chairman of the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, said that the industry has been working hard to find alternatives to cans containing bisphenol A for the past three years. The best answer is not yet available. "Some alternatives apply only to limited types of packaging, but for most food packaging, we have not yet found a product that can replace existing materials and have excellent performance characteristics." He also stressed that manufacturers are trying hard to find alternatives not because of scientific or security considerations, but also to satisfy consumer demands for alternatives.

Chissman Mitchell, former director of the Food Additives' Safety Office of the Food and Drug Administration, said that it is difficult to implement the use of bisphenol A-containing materials in food packaging. Because the agency has not yet approved any of the commonly used food packaging materials that can replace BPA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejected the request of the Natural Resources Defense Council this time, but this is not to say that the application of bisphenol A is "a final word."

Last month, US House Representative Edward Makie also sent a petition to the Food and Drug Administration, urging the agency to ban the use of bisphenol A in food packaging. The American Chemical Industry Council (ACC) also recently issued an initiative to the Food and Drug Administration. Since some bottle manufacturers no longer use materials containing bisphenol A, they hope to be able to ban the use of such products in baby bottles and sippy cups. Materials to eliminate the potential threat of bisphenol A to infant health.