Attorney General Slams Companies Over Apparent Plot to Blur BPA Dangers

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Attorney general slams companies over apparent plot to blur BPA dangers

 

 

 

 

By Rory Harrington, 17-Jun-2009

 

 

 

 

A host of packaging and food giants have been condemned by a leading

US law official for apparently plotting to use deceptive and illegal

fear tactics to blur the truth about the dangers of bisphenol A (BPA).

 

Richard Blumenthal, attorney general for Connecticut, has demanded

details from a high-level meeting held in Washington DC last month

where " an apparent campaign to use fear tactics, political

manipulation and misleading marketing to fight regulation of

bisphenol A " was discussed.

 

Letter to industry

 

Blumenthal warned that a misinformation campaign could threaten

public health by confusing consumers and convincing them to ignore

mounting scientific evidence that BPA, even in minute doses,

endangers children and pregnant women.

 

In a letter to key industry players including Crown Packaging Corp,

Alcoa, Del Monte Foods, the Grocery Manufacturers Association,

Coca-Cola, and the North American Metal Packaging Alliance,

Blumenthal called on them to condemn any operation to mislead the public.

 

The attorney general, who was the proponent and advocate of a new law

in Connecticut that limits the use of BPA in infant bottles, said he

was disturbed by reports of the campaign. He said alleged plans to

use a pregnant women to front a publicity drive for BPA would be, if

proven true, " astonishing and appalling in light of mounting

scientific evidence about the dangers of BPA, especially to children " .

 

Scientific evidence increasing

 

In letters to these companies, Blumenthal wrote that he was

particularly disturbed by reports of the meeting indicating that

Connecticut and California would be targeted.

 

" This effort seeking to 'manipulate the legislative process' and

public opinion raises significant ethical and policy questions as

well as legal issues, " he said.

 

The attorney general said there was increasing credible science

linking BPA to range of diseases including cancer, diabetes,

hyperactivity, obesity, low sperm count, miscarriage and other

reproductive problems in laboratory animals, as well as heart disease

and diabetes in humans.

 

Campaign of 'confusion and concealment'

 

Blumenthal said: " Colluding in a campaign of confusion and

concealment - potentially endangering children and pregnant women -

is appalling and possibly illegal. We are demanding details about

industry giants plotting to use deceptive, and possibly illegal,

tactics to blur the truth about BPA dangers.

 

" I am calling on these companies to disavow this unconscionable

campaign to deliberately deceive the public, and instead commit to

educating and protecting our citizens. "

 

Industry focuses on scientific evidence

 

However the Grocers Manufacturers Association (GMA) said it did not

know of any such campaign, adding the body was focused on the

scientific evidence relating to the safety of the substance.

 

Brian Kennedy, GMA director of communications, told

FoodProductionDaily.com: " The Grocery Manufacturers Association is

unaware of any marketing effort as described by Connecticut's

attorney general. FDA is currently reviewing its safety assessment of

BPA. GMA member companies rely on regulatory determinations that

packaging with BPA is safe and our industry welcomes FDA's thorough

review of all of the scientific evidence. "

 

The North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA) echoed the need

to take note of scientific data and the necessity to convey this

effectively to the public. It has previously rejected the allegations

over the meeting of May 28 as " blatantly inaccurate and fabricated " .

 

" The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. has the utmost

interest in the science related to BPA and the public health, which

is exactly why our members are continually discussing ways to more

effectively communicate the full scientific facts, " a spokesperson

told FoodProductionDaily.com.

 

" We emphatically support the many global scientific reviews that have

consistently concluded that BPA is safe for food contact applications

and are fully cooperating with the State of Connecticut's and

Congress' inquiries. "

 

 

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