Maine Activists Champion BPA Ban in Baby Food, Canned Foods
Environmental health activists in Maine are reportedly campaigning to extend the state’s current ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sippy cups and reusable food containers to all food containers within three years. Spearheaded by the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, the effort follows a chemical analysis funded by the group that detected BPA in baby and toddler foods.
According to the activists, 15 food containers were sent to a San Francisco independent lab to test for BPA, a packaging chemical used as an epoxy liner inside metal food cans and metal lids of glass jars, that has allegedly “been linked to cancer, obesity, learning disabilities, male infertility, and early puberty in girls.” Test results found BPA in 11 of 12 baby food containers manufactured by BeechNut, Gerber, Earth’s Best Organic, and Shaw’s Wild Harvest Brand and in all three canned foods featuring Campbell’s Original Disney Princess SpaghettiOs and Dora the Explorer soup, and Chef Boyardee macaroni and cheese.
They are urging the state’s Board of Environmental Protection to phase out BPA in food marketed to children younger than age 3, including infant formula, baby foods and “canned foods branded with images of cartoon characters to market to preschoolers.” They also call for enforcement action against baby food manufacturers violating state law that require BPA reporting and new legislation that would authorize a phase-out of BPA in all foods. “To protect our kids it’s time to get this dangerous and unnecessary chemical out of the foods our children eat,” said Megan Rice, spokesperson for Mainely Moms and Dads. See Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine Press Release and Maine Public Broadcasting Network, February 14, 2012.
