Summer's here, and there's nothing more relaxing than lounging on a hot night with a cool, refreshing beverage. Or, how about nourishing your child on those sultry summer days with a fresh drink from a sippy cup or baby bottle. But, what if I told you that those drinks are also infused with an endocrine disruptor associated with heart disease and diabetes. No, it's not the latest fad coffee drink but a dangerous toxin that is found in everyday consumer products.
You, like millions of other Americans, probably regularly use and consume products made with Bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic chemical that is a $6 billion global industry. It's found in ordinary products such as baby bottles, sippy cups and canned food. Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration, which is supposedly deemed with the task of protecting consumer interests has forgotten who it represents. Despite numerous scientific studies, including a recent one from the American Medical Association, confirming the dangers of BPA, the FDA instead has chosen to pledge its ongoing support for the use of this chemical.
Says FDA scientist Laura Tarantino, "A margin of safety exists that is adequate to protect consumers, including infants and children, at the current levels of exposure." Despite the agency's continued allegiance to this toxic product, consumers, politicians and advocacy groups are fighting back and saying no to BPA.
Corporations are getting anxious over the uproar and outrage generated at their continued use of BPA. A host of companies that use BPA met recently to establish the so-called BPA Joint Trade Association. "Coca-Cola, Alcoa, Del Monte, Crown, the American Chemistry Council, the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. and Grocery Manufacturers Association convened behind closed doors at Washington's exclusive Cosmos Club and committed $500,000 to an effort to 'prolong the life of BPA.'" These executives tried craft messages to allay consumers fears by targeting the most vulnerable populations, young mothers and pregnant women, with fear tactics.
Fortunately, the public is smarter than these executives and the FDA. Consumers have choice and power to say no to corporations pushing dangerous toxins on them and their families. The Environmental Working Group offers online resources for finding BPA-free products. And, get involved today to help to ban this product. It's something we should all live without.
Sarah's Social Action Snapshot originally appeared on Takepart.com
In his book "Healthy Aging", Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D. (Ameirca's doctor) recommends drinking bottled water on page 317.
He says and I quote," Use bottled water or get a home water purifier...........".
So is Andrew Weil uninformed about the dangers of BPA or is he just another phony old codger? He sure sells a lot of books.
Best Regards,
G&M
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/15595/water-the-drink-for-long-life/
It will be interesting to see how the Obama administration handles this one!
Add on to my boycott list.
"We're in the money, we have a lot of what it takes to get along..."
Maybe we should send them to Afghanistan AFPAK...so they can kill the enemy, rather than innocent trusting Americans...