For almost 2 years now I have written on this blog about the dangers of BPA from polycarbonate plastic leaching into our food and drink. I have written several posts that highlight BPA free sippys, cups, teethers, and eating utensils. Many other bloggers have done the same and as a group… MOMS have altered public perception and dealt a big blow to an industry that did not apparently care one iota about the adverse health effects of their products.
In response there have been several baby bottle manufacturers that have promised they will no longer us BPA. There are also several US cities and states that have banned BPA in children’s products or plan to do so soon. It seems only logical that the next on the guillotine would be cans and food containers that use BPA in their liners. Connecticut is poised to do just that… ban BPA in all food containers.
But while moms all over the country can pat themselves on the back for influencing legislation to make our children safer they also need to be aware that the BPA industry is going to tussle.
A reporter at The Washington Post recently got internal notes from a private meeting held by companies who stand to lose a lot money if BPA bans get passed… aka food and drink companies. According to the reporter they huddled together for hours “trying to figure out how to tamp down public concerns over the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA”.
To me that means they are trying to figure out a way to fool us into thinking BPA is safe OR fool us into thinking it is a necessary evil that me must accept. Among the topics discussed was how they can use ” fear tactics as ways to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging,” the notes said.
They also discussed spending $500,000 to craft a campaign that would help their cause and use “a ‘holy grail’ spokesperson, a ‘pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA,’ “. Of course this pretty commonplace for all companies peddling crappy products.
Some people will always be smarter than that so they have to break out the big guns:
Those in attendance said the mainstream media are ignoring their side of the controversy, and attendees talked about how the group is focusing on “legislative battles and befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process,” the document said.
Ugh. Instead of trying to come up with safe ways to serve food they would rather spend money on pulling the wool over our eyes or using the political system give us no choice in the matter.
Moms everywhere need to be prepared for a battle over BPA. We need to continue to let our legislators know that human safety comes BEFORE profit.
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