Breaking news this afternoon: Connecticut is now in the lead for safest kids, at least as far as BPA is concerned. Gov. Rell today signed into law a bill that bans BPA (full name: bisphenol A; occupation(s): synthetic estrogen, plastic additive; links: breast cancer, birth defects) from a range of food and drink containers for kids, including reusable containers like baby bottles and (this is where it gets exciting) packaging for food and formula.
This is huge, because although a handful of governments (Canada, Minnesota, Suffolk County, N.Y. and Chicago among them) have banned BPA from baby bottles, this is the first state ban on BPA in the cans and containers that you bring home from the grocery store.
Kids are our first line of change because their growing bodies are especially sensitive to the harmful effects of BPA. And as of October 1, 2011, Connecticut parents won't have to worry that the infant formula or baby food they buy might harm their children's health.
This story is far from over, of course: a bill is wending its way through the California legislature right now after passing the state senate Tuesday; and Congress is considering a bill that would ban BPA from food and beverage containers for all ages. In the meantime, the BPA industry has some explaining to do following a leaked memo about PR strategy.
Power to the states and counties that step up to the plat by providing those bans on making it safe for our children.
Posted by: Ajlouny | August 10, 2009 at 07:48 PM