FDA Doesn't Do Their Homework on BPA - So Who's in Charge?

Time change is great for early morning views.


Finally truth prevails. The FDA Subcommittee did the right thing and concluded that the FDA didn't do their homework. It was a unanimous vote I might add. For the full report click: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-31-bpa-fda_N.htm . It is an excellent report and I urge you to read it.

Seems at the root of all these FDA issues is...who's in charge? The article makes reference to Andrew von Eschenbach who was appointed and heads the FDA and it is important to understand who this guy really is. His bio initially sounds good, an M.D. (no guarantee to real interest in health!), a cancer survivor but then it goes downhill with his huge links to the drug company industry. And we know what that means.

So back to the original article about the subcommittee conclusion. Von Eschenbach is doing some serious back peddling and ridiculous justifying why the FDA isn't taking a stronger stand about the dangers of BPA. He says they used the latest research ( basically a fib, oh alright...a lie) and then talks about not taking a hurried, alarming response so as to avoid reacting to every new study that comes down the pipe. Hello???? How long has BPA been reported to cause hormone disruption? Try decades? So let me get this straight, there's a fire in the building and because we're not really sure things continue to burn and can get out of control, we'll just stay inside for further evaluation? Let's remember, a lot of doctors still smoke too.

I guess it is the prerogative of any administration to appoint whom they wish. This very premise is why electing the right people for the job is so critical in all facets on our country. Think about that when you vote from here on out and forever. From Town Hall Clerk, to Mayor, to ...President. Will they appoint folks who will do the right thing? Or will they put in old buddies with agenda's and links to big money.

So, go out and VOTE. (didn't think it would go here did you?)

BPA FREE Baby Bottles - Get Glass

Nippy New England morning...


Today's blog is short(sort of) but the links are invaluable. No point in repeating all these extensive studies and conclusions. Read them yourself by just clicking through.

BPA, one of many petrol based additives in plastic, continues to make headlines as a hormone disruptor with great potential for unknown future risks to human health. BPA, Bisphenol-A, was, and still is, added to plastic baby bottles despite being banned in Canada, and taken off the shelf by big stores such as Walmart(and our own FDA has their head in the sand) There is so much evidence of BPA's dangers( despite the plastics industry's attempt at fraud websites) that caution can not happen soon enough.

How soon? Now, before a baby is even born, or ASAP. Fetal development can be affected by the mother's exposure to and use of BPA containing products. All these links available are so comprehensive that I urge you to review them. If you want to erase all doubt, the safest non-leaching product is glass.

Glass-back to basics. Since our modern convenience society wanted something that wouldn't break, most people began using plastic baby bottles many decades ago. But things went astray as the plastic companies got greedy about cheap additives and fancy clear designs. Not only were we told they were convenient, we were told they were safe. It wasn't until comprehensive testing laid out the facts. See this link to compare baby bottles that purported to be safe and were not: 5 Leaching Brands

Now companies are switching their formula and claiming BPA free but are still showing leaching but at a low level. We are told this is safe. @%#&*! This is what SIGG claims, to be BPA free, but the testing results say "undetectable", not FREE. Like Nalgene, many companies made a switch to an untested new chemical. Or the are using polypropylene. Based on the plastic industries track record of deception, I wouldn't begin to trust these new plastic bottles.

Get Glass-Be Safe. Hormone disruption is pretty serious stuff. To dismiss it is short sighted, and that is being very polite. The affects of hormone disruption happen many years after it is way too late, breast cancer, obesity, thyroid, infertility, early puberty, heart disease and the list goes on. Taking the precautionary road is the only way to assure safety, and that means using glass.

But "my baby throws her bottle and it breaks"... so stop giving it back to her, she'll get the message. "I'm worried about the bottle breaking"...sooooo be careful. "The glass is heavy"... so get a 5 oz. bottle or sit and feed your baby if they aren't old enough to hold it, like you should. Are these typical excuses worth the entire future of your human being? I think not.

Next topic-Nipples. (no, not that kind!) Stay turned...