it’s in your food too

January 10, 2009 by admin
Filed under Bisphenol-A & Phthalates

Every day more and more information comes out about the negative effects of Bisphenol-A. Yet, everyday, the FDA stands behind its decision in having approved it for use.

An article in The Missourian highlights specifics about Bisphenol-A that are very valuable to the American consumer. It bears repeating that Bisphenol-A is a chemical used in the synthesis of hard plastic products, as well as, the liner of canned goods and soda.

Bisphenol-A, referred to as BPA, is an estrogen like compound. Due to its chemical nature, it acts like a hormone mimicker, affecting the body in ways such as high level of cancers and sterility. What was not known, at least to this publication, is its effects in causing obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Frederick vom Saal, from Missouri University, has been studying BPA since 1995 and may be the leading researcher on the topic. The research indicates that we ingest a lot of BPA due to its leaching from the container. So, the old adage of “you are what you eat” is obsolete and is replaced with “you are what you eat our of.”

Some facts about the affect of BPA:

- 93 percent of the people tested for BPA exposure had various levels of the chemical in their urine. Those with the highest levels were children.

- The National Toxicology Program under the National Institutes of Health also concluded that BPA posed some danger. In its September report, it cited “some concern for effects on the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposures to Bisphenol-A.”

- Bisphenol-A mimics estrogen, and high levels of estrogen in the body increases the body’s sugar production, which can lead to diabetes and heart disease.

- the Journal of the American Medical Association showed the strongest link between human intake of BPA and health effects. Of 1,455 people age 6 and older, those with the highest levels of BPA in their urine “were more than twice as likely to report having cardiovascular (heart) disease or diabetes” and “higher BPA levels were associated with clinically abnormal liver enzyme concentrations,” according to the study briefing.

The most disheartening aspect of all of this is also the high degree to which it affects those of a lower socioeconomic demographics. The products that use BPA are also the cheapest products; canned foods versus fresh, soda, and baby products (bottles made with BPA versus not). The same people that are getting exposed to BPA are the same group of people that cannot afford the medical costs associated. Therefore, putting a greater strain on society and our welfare system.

A group of people have solicited Barack Obama to ban BPA, following the lead of many other countries. This also comes on top of a group of FDA employees sending a letter to the president-elect asking for a restructure due to corruption amongst high ranking officials. This is too serious a subject to ignore, as it affects the well-being (and economy) of the American public.