North American Metal Packaging Alliance Expresses Confidence In BPA Safety For Food Packaging Applications

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 30 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. (NAMPA) today reiterated its confidence in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and all regulatory authorities around the world, that have concluded Bisphenol A (BPA) is safe for use in food packaging applications including those for infants and adults. The statement comes in the wake of the release of an FDA Science Board BPA Subcommittee report questioning the process the agency used to assess the chemical.

In its report, the BPA Subcommittee said FDA did not articulate reasonable support for criteria used to deselect a group of studies purportedly conducted utilizing recognized research methodology. The BPA Subcommittee advised reconsideration of these same studies, which the FDA had previously rejected citing flawed research design and procedure.

"It would be a departure from accepted FDA practice for a scientific determination to be reached without a thorough and valid review, including access to the raw data," said Dr. John Rost, NAMPA Chair. "We encourage FDA to look at all these studies, including the full data, to validate any findings. We remain confident in the regulatory review process to ensure public safety and protect public health. The Subcommittee's recommendations are just one step in this review process."

Metal packaging utilizing protective coatings, has made nutritious, high quality, shelf-stable food available to people around the world. Such packaging enables high-temperature food sterilization and long-term preservation, which provides unsurpassed food safety as well as nutritional integrity.

About NAMPA

The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. and its members support sound science and trust the scientific review process that has protected our food supply for decades.

North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc.