In case you missed it: FDA on BPA

In case you missed it: Last month, the Washington Post published an article about the FDA's recent fumbling around over the risks of BPA exposure. A couple of paragraphs really summed it up for me (I added bold for emphasis):

The FDA had long maintained that BPA is safe, relying largely on two studies funded by the chemical industry. The agency was faulted by its own panel of independent science advisers in 2008, which said its position on BPA was scientifically flawed because it ignored more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that raised health concerns about BPA. Recent data found health effects even at low doses of BPA -- lower than the levels considered safe by the FDA.

The chemical industry, which produces more than 6 billion tons of BPA annually and has been fighting restrictions on its use, said Friday's announcement was good news because the agency did not tell people to stop using products containing the chemical.

Here at home, it is worth noting that the Oregon Senate last week rejected a very reasonable and narrowly focused bil that would have banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups sold in Oregon. This bill was a top prioirty of the Oregon Conservation Network this session. A similar ban just passed in Washington state nearly unanimously.

Some Senators, including Alan Bates (D-Ashland) and Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), along with Senate President Courtney and Senate Majority Leader Devlin, did everything they could to ensure the passage of this bill. But in the end, every Republican and three Democrats killed this bill on the Senate floor.

Read a post by OLCV ED Jon Isaacs about why this bill should have enjoyed broad bipartisan support.