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Grocery Manufacturers Association: Canadian Risk Assessment Reaffirms Safety of Bisphenol A (BPA) for Adults and Children

WASHINGTON, Apr. 18 /PRNewswire/ --

No Need for Consumers to Change Purchasing or Eating Patterns

WASHINGTON, April 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a statement released today, Robert Brackett, chief science officer for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), reassured consumers about the safety of bisphenol A (BPA):

"We welcome today's Health Canada/Environment Canada BPA risk assessment, as most of its findings are in line with the overwhelming body of scientific evidence that confirms the safety of BPA for adults and very young children. Although the report confirms the safety of BPA for people of all ages, the risk -- while being within acceptable limits -- is greater for newborns and infants. Industry and government can and should work together to further reduce BPA exposure for children under 18 months of age.

"Based on the entire body of scientific evidence, and the findings of the FDA and numerous health authorities and researchers, consumers can continue to safely enjoy foods and beverages in the many forms of packaging provided, including those that contain BPA, without changing their purchasing or eating patterns.

"The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Authority and the World Health Organization (WHO) have all evaluated and approved the safety of BPA. BPA is approved by FDA for use in food contact applications and for more than 40 years it has played an essential part in food preservation. FDA, and other regulatory agencies, will continue to evaluate the safety of BPA on an ongoing basis.

"In addition to the WHO and the EFSA, several other prominent international bodies have also agreed with FDA regarding the safety of BPA. These include the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission; the European Chemical Bureau of the European Union; the European Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavorings, Processing Aids, and Materials in Contact with Food; and the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology."

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world's leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the food supply through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the association's member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation's economy. For more information, visit the GMA Web site at www.gmaonline.org.