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CU commends CA Assembly for passing BPA ban


May 23, 2011

Consumers Union & Environmental Working Group Commend CA Assembly for Passing BPA Ban; Urge Swift Passage by Senate

Sacramento, CA—Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, and the Environmental Working Group commend the California State Assembly for passing legislation that protects babies and toddlers from exposure to the hazardous chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in their food and drink containers. Assembly Bill 1319, the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act, bans the use of BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups, infant formula, and baby food. The bill, authored by Assembly Member Betsy Butler (D-Marina Del Ray), now moves on to the Senate. The groups urge the State Senate to quickly pass this legislation.
“We thank the State Assembly for putting children ahead of industry and passing BPA-ban legislation,” said Elisa Odabashian, Director, Consumers Union’s West Coast Office. “This is a wonderful day for California’s children and for their parents who can look forward to all children’s products in the stores in the state being free of this hazardous chemical.”
“California is now on track to catch up to China, Europe, Canada, and nine other states in efforts to protect children from the artificial hormone BPA,” said Renee Sharp, California Director of the Environmental Working Group.
The chemical and formula industries reportedly spent $5 million last year to defeat a similar bill and lobbied fiercely this time around as well claiming that BPA is safe and that safer alternatives are not available.
Consumers Union has long warned of the dangers BPA in food containers, particularly for infants and small children. Its precautionary advice to consumers is based on more than 200 scientific studies that show clear links between BPA exposure and increased risk of cancer, diabetes, reproductive, neurological, and developmental disorders.
Studies show that BPA is in the bloodstreams of more than 90 percent of the US population at levels that have shown harm in animal studies.
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