Scientists Rebuke U.S. FDA's Findings on Chemical (Bisphenol A)

[RedEarth]

Source: (Bloomberg)

Oct. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Scientists advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the agency produced a flawed safety assessment of a chemical used for decades in baby bottles and food storage containers.

A panel of doctors and researchers meeting today in Gaithersburg, Maryland, didn't determine whether the chemical is safe, and said more research is needed. Instead, the panel unanimously backed a report by two of its members saying the FDA failed to provide sufficient evidence that the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, isn't a risk to the public.

Bisphenol A has been linked in some research to diabetes and developmental changes in children. The panel's vote adds to criticism of the FDA by lawmakers and consumer groups who said the agency supported, without rigorous investigation, the safety of a product in widespread use to stiffen plastic and line metal cans.

``The margins of safety defined by FDA as adequate are, in fact, not adequate,'' said Martin Philbert, one of the report's authors and a member of the panel, during today's meeting.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aQrTwWzgtN4E&refer=us

[Sparky 1]

1. This should be on the news and they should be pointing out...

... how the Bush administration has underfunded and hence understaffed the FDA in a typical Republican attempt to prove that "government doesn't work." The article you posted is frightening and it's right in line with all the food and toy poisonings we've been seeing under Bush. It will be a huge relief to get Obama in office!