Study Recommends Limiting Bisphenol A in Food Containers

A new study published in Health Affairs suggests that replacing Bisphenol A (BPA) with a safer alternative, especially in food and drink containers, could save the U.S. economy over a billion dollars a year in healthcare costs and lost labor.  BPA, which is found in hard plastic water bottles, the linings of food cans, and grocery store receipts, is associated with childhood obesity, coronary heart disease, and cancer.

The study suggests that exposure to BPA is associated with significant health problems for children and adults, resulting in almost $3 billion in healthcare costs and lost labor.  If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required a safer substitute for BPA, it could save anywhere from $800 million to $1 billion.  However, care should be taken in choosing a safer alternative, so that one toxic chemical is not simply swapped with another.

Last year, BPA was designated as a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, meaning that products sold in California that contained BPA would require a health hazard warning.  The American Chemistry Council sued, resulting in the delisting of BPA, at least until a trial can proceed.

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings. The Chanler Group has represented citizen enforcers of Proposition 65 for more than twenty years.