New Legislation Would Prohibit Use of BPA in Food Containers

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Representative Edward Markey
(D-Mass.) have introduced bills (S. 136; H.R. 432) that would ban the use of the
chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in food containers such as baby and water bottles,
sippy cups and those used for canned foods and infant formula. Markey notes
in a statement that he “led the fight to ban BPA from food and beverage
containers” in the past two Congresses. Feinstein, whose bill is co-sponsored
by Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Bernard Sanders
(I-Vt.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.), said, “Scientific evidence increasingly shows
that BPA poses serious health risks, especially to children, and manufacturers
and retailers have already started to offer BPA-free products in their shelves….
The time has come to take action.”

The Senate bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions, and the House bill is pending before the House Committee on
Energy and Commerce. See Feinstein and Markey Press Releases, January 25, 2011.