Dropping the ball

FDA under scrutiny for its conclusions about bisphenol A

If you read last month’s issue of Nutrition & Healing, you know that the FDA dropped the ball — in a big way — when it comes to protecting the public from bisphenol A, a chemical that has been linked to prostate and breast cancer, diabetes, and hyperactivity (just to name a few).

In September, the FDA released a report which concluded that “an adequate margin of safety existsat current levels of exposure from food contact uses.” The really scary part? They based this conclusion on two studies — and completely ignored more than 100 others showing that bisphenol A is dangerous.

But for once, the agency may just be held accountable for its latest misstep. According to an article that appeared recently in The New York Times, “A scientific panel has issued a blistering report against the Food and Drug Administration, saying it ignored important evidence in reassuring consumers about the safety ofbisphenol A.”

The report charges that the FDA’s conclusion about the chemical “creates a false sense of security” and “overlooks a wide range of potentially serious findings.”

But perhaps even more surprising than a “blistering report” against the FDA is the fact that the panel who issued it includes experts from two other federal agencies — the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency.

And you know if los Federales are pointing the finger at one of their own, things must be really bad.

As Dr. Wright said in the November issue of Nutrition & Healing, real FDA reform is long, long overdue. But the good news is that you can personally help get the process started. The American Association for Health Freedom (AAHF) is leading a campaign to reform the FDA, starting with a petition that will be delivered to Congress. If you and every eTips reader sign the petition they’ve put together there will between more than 100,000 additional signatures — a number Congress will hopefully find it hard to ignore. Please visit www.reformfda.org to sign the Petition to Reform the FDA. And if you can find friends and family members who will do the same, it will help take our cause that much further.