Stephen Ostroff, Deputy Commissioner for FVMNTP states draft report on Bisphenol A

Stephen Ostroff, M.D., Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine on National Toxicology Program draft report on Bisphenol A stating that “We base our regulatory decisions on robust science so consumers can feel confident about the foods they eat. The FDA looks at all available scientific evidence when reviewing the safety of foods and food packaging, and regularly collaborates with other federal partners to protect and promote public health.”

One of the key areas of consumer interest is the usage of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging. BPA is authorized for use in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins in certain food and beverage can linings. Given this interest, the FDA has routinely considered and evaluated the scientific evidence surrounding the use of BPA and continues to conclude that BPA is safe for the currently authorized uses in food containers and packaging.

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) released for public comment a pre-peer review draft report on the findings of a comprehensive two-year rodent study examining the potential effects of BPA on health. The study was conducted by senior scientists at the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR). The study is part of a collaborative effort called the Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity (CLARITY-BPA), which was established by the FDA and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health after a 2008 NTP report raised some concerns about developmental effects in rodents exposed to relatively low doses of BPA. Experts from federal agencies and academic grantees worked together to design and conduct studies through the CLARITY-BPA research program to address data gaps identified.