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NEWS RELEASE Committee on Energy and Commerce Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman For immediate release: May 6, 2008 Contact: Jodi Seth or Dingell, Stupak Call on Infant Formula Manufacturers
to Remove Bisphenol A from Packaging “Concerns about the health effects
of Bisphenol A have mounted in recent weeks,” Dingell said.
“Given the dangers posed by this chemical and the public’s growing
unease, infant formula manufacturers should play it safe and reassure parents
and families by discontinuing use of this chemical.” “While FDA continues its
safety assessment and some retailers pull products containing BPA from their
shelves, we cannot ignore the potential risk of infant formula packaging
containing BPA that remains on the market,” Stupak said. “We
are asking infant formula makers to voluntarily remove BPA from their packaging
in order to protect developing children from the chemical’s devastating
effects.” The letters were sent to: Mead Johnson
& Company; Nestle USA, Inc.; PBM Products; and Ross Products Division of
Abbott Labs. Those four companies produce liquid infant formula for
consumption in the The Committee notes that Abbott Labs has
already commenced efforts to evaluate and identify alternative packaging
options. “We applaud those efforts and encourage them and others to
proceed expeditiously,” said Dingell. Dingell and Stupak began investigating
BPA in January. At that time, the lawmakers wrote the infant formula
manufacturers to ask whether and how the companies test for Bisphenol A in
their infant formula. The lawmakers are also pressing the Food and Drug
Administration about how it determined that BPA is safe. In April, the National Toxicology Program,
an office within the National Institutes of Health, released a Draft Brief that
suggested that
the chemical may cause neural and behavioral problems as well as effects in the
prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females. Note: the text of the letter is
below. For additional information on the
Committee’s investigation into Bisphenol A, please visit: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Investigations/Bisphenol.shtml May 6, 2008 Mr. Paul Bulcke Executive Vice President Nestlé USA, Inc.
Dear Mr. Bulcke: Under Rules X and XI of the Rules of the U.S. House of
Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations are investigating the use of Bisphenol A (BPA),
particularly in products intended for use by infants and children. Thank you for your response to our letter of January
17, 2008. Since that time, the National Toxicology Program has released a
Draft Brief, which indicates that there is “some concern for neural and behavioral effects
in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures.” Of
note is that these concerns are based on “low” level exposures,
which “can cause changes in behavior and the brain, prostate gland,
mammary gland, and the age at which females attain puberty.” In summary,
the brief states “the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human
development cannot be dismissed.” In addition, according to press reports, Health Given these determinations based on the available
scientific data, we called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to
reconsider their safety assessment of BPA on April 15, 2008. We believe
that health risks from BPA in developing infants and children are serious
enough to warrant immediate action, and we are concerned that BPA remains in
the packaging of your infant formula products. We ask that you voluntarily remove BPA from your
infant formula packaging. We believe that this measure will help protect
developing infants and children from the neural, behavioral, and developmental
risks of BPA. We also believe that such action will provide reassurance
to concerned parents who might worry that their children will have altered
prostate and mammary glands or reach early puberty simply because of their
infant formula. We ask that you respond in writing and deliver your
response to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee
on Energy and Commerce, Room 316, Thank you for your prompt attention to this
matter. Sincerely, s/John D.
Dingell
s/Bart Stupak Chairman
Chairman Committee on Energy and
Commerce
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations cc:
The Honorable Joe Barton, Ranking Member Committee on Energy and
Commerce The Honorable John
Shimkus, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations - 30 - |