Lawmakers vow to pursue BPA ban

Federal lawmakers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel they will work to enact a ban on the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) after the newspaper’s weekend report, which found that food containers labeled as “microwave safe” leached toxic levels of BPA into food.

The newspaper tested 10 types of "microwave safe" containers. All 10 leached toxic levels of BPA into the food when microwaved.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer (D) said he would fight to have BPA removed from all children’s products.

"Parents always err on the side of caution when it comes to their kids' health. We think that the law should do the same," Schumer said.

The Food and Drug Administration has been under intense scrutiny from the scientific community for failing to act on BPA. The FDA is continuing to study the BPA issue. It declared in August that the chemical was safe but faced criticism for only relying on chemistry-industry-funded studies. Canada recently declared BPA a toxic substance and banned its use in baby bottles.

The BPA fight will play out on the state level also. Wisconsin State Senator Julie Lassa said she is preparing legislation to ban BPA from children’s products. Similar legislation is being proposed in 13 other states.

It’s uncertain whether states or the federal government will make a move on banning BPA first.

Massachusetts Rep. Edward J. Markey (D) told the Journal Sentinel that he would re-introduce a bill in Congress in January to ban BPA from food and beverage containers.

"This test of 'microwave safe' containers adds to the already vast and compelling body of knowledge indicating that BPA is dangerous and unsuitable for all food and beverage containers," Markey said.

Click here for more information about BPA.