http://www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.gov/

Discover how to participate, find resources and more information by visiting http://www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.gov/ContentParticipate/HomeParticipate.htm

Earlier in May US Senator Ted Kennedy said Dr. Hamburg is “widely respected for her expertise in community health, bio-defense, and nuclear, biological, and chemical preparedness.” He also said that she “will face many challenges as FDA Commissioner, and she is obviously well-qualified to deal with them.”

The FDA finds itself in reaction mode as recent outbreaks of food borne illness and drug recalls spur lack of confidence in the agencies effectiveness. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein and new FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg are expected to work to restore credibility to the FDA by acting with integrity and making decisions based on the best available scientific evidence, not on political influence.

Commissioner Hamburg said her top priority is to develop a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus, followed by an overhaul of the food safety system.

The National Toxicology Program Brief on Bisphenol A (CAS No. 80-05-7, April, 2008) produced by the Department of Health and Human Services indicated risk of the following at low dose levels: neural and behavioral alterations, altered prostate and urinary tract development, lesions on prostate and mammary glands, and early onset of puberty in female young. In particular, there is risk of alterations related to the development of normal sex-based differences between males and females. There is also some degree of risk for adults for breast cancer, prostate cancer and other health problems.

The FDA has maintained that BPA is safe. The “Washington Post” reports however that the FDA has relied mainly on two studies funded by the chemical industry. In October 2008, the FDA’s position on BPA was faulted by its own independent science adviser, but the agency. The FDA has stated that it has no plans amend its position.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported on the FDA several times in recent months on issues such as inadequate procedures and insufficient resources, stating in one report that “FDA’s oversight and enforcement efforts have not kept pace”.

Regardless of the controversy, avoiding BPA is a wise choice, and the removal of BPA from baby bottles is a positive step in the right direction.

Government Accountability Office: www.gao.gov

National Toxicology Program : http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/

At Organic Natural Food News we’ll be offering information about topics related to healthy food such as CSAs and Co-ops, food ingredients, grow your own, food packaging, local food, food sources, and contaminants.

We hope this information will be helpful for you and we look forward to your comments and feedback.

Enjoy!