Connecticut’s BPA ban moves forward

Connecticut came closer to becoming the first state to ban bisphenol A from food and beverage containers Tuesday. The ban passed an important hurdle when a legislative committee unanimously endorsed the bill, according to a story in Forbes.

While legislators were showing their support for banning BPA, citizens outside were also rallying in support of the bill. Fifty-plus supporters gathered at Minuteman Park in Hartford for a rally organized by The Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut.

Connecticut is in the running to become the first state to ban BPA. Canada has banned the chemical – which studies show disrupts hormones and lead to cancer, heart disease and diabetes - from food and beverage containers.

In the U.S., Suffolk County, NY was the first jurisdiction to enact a ban – just this month. Several states including Washington, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Illinois and Massachusetts are also considering bans.

According to Forbes:

If approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, the law would phase in restrictions over the next few years to prohibit making, selling or distributing baby bottles and certain other products made with BPA.

Warning labels also would be required on all food products - not just infant formulas and others intended for children - that come in containers made with BPA and sold in Connecticut.

"We are sending a valid signal to the industry that we need to protect our children from these toxins and they need to do their research to find us viable alternatives," said state Rep. Jim Shapiro, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the committee that endorsed the proposal.

The Food and Drug Administration has failed to act on BPA. Just this week an international coalition of scientists called out the FDA for relying only on flawed, chemical-industry-funded studies when coming to the conclusion earlier this year that BPA was safe. The FDA says it continues to study BPA’s safety.