February 09, 2012

GROCERY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION: FDA ONCE AGAIN REAFFIRMS SAFETY OF BISPHENOL A (BPA) FOR ALL CONSUMERS

No Need for Consumers to Change Purchasing or Eating Patterns

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a statement released today in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's most recent Bisphenol A (BPA) draft risk assessment, Dr. Robert Brackett, chief science and regulatory affairs officer for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), reassured consumers about the safety of BPA (http://www.gmabrands.com/publications/SciPol_Bisphenol.pdf):

"We welcome the FDA's draft BPA risk assessment, as its findings - once again - support the overwhelming body of scientific evidence that confirms the safety of BPA in food packaging for all consumers.

"BPA has been safely used in food contact applications for 50 years and plays an essential role in keeping foods safe and fresh. Based on the entire body of scientific evidence, and the findings of the FDA and numerous health authorities and researchers, consumers can continue to safely enjoy foods and beverages in the many forms of packaging provided, including those that contain BPA, without changing their purchasing or eating patterns.

"The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Authority, and Health Canada have all recently evaluated and affirmed the safety of BPA.

"Several other prominent international bodies have also agreed with FDA regarding the safety of BPA. These include the World Health Organization, Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission; the European Chemical Bureau of the European Union; the European Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavorings, Processing Aids, and Materials in Contact with Food; and the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology."

For more information on BPA click here: http://www.gmabrands.com/publications/SciPol_Bisphenol.pdf.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world's leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the food supply through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the association's member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation's economy. For more information, visit the GMA Web site at www.gmaonline.org.

SOURCE Grocery Manufacturers Association