Can we trust the FDA on BPA...or anything else for that matter?

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Permalink Reply by Mandy Cooley on January 27, 2009 at 8:04pm

I would never pretend to be a scientist or a doctor when it comes to BPA, but I will say, as a mom, that we have been dealing with a lot of "minor" health concerns with our two kiddos (4 years old and 7 months) that seem to point to the influence of BPA. They both have dealt with many digestive and hormone-related concerns. After seeing our pediatrician and then a pediatric GI doctor, we have undergone a number of tests to determine that the boys have minimal issue - i.e. nothing life threatening. However, when I dig a little deeper into the potential causes of these "minimal" problems, all evidence - from both sides of the BPA argument - connects to the chemicals we expose ourselves to, and in turn, expose our children to. Our GI doctor actually went so far as to specifically site the amount of plastics and toxins that are common in our diets and consumption.

Regardless of who is responsible for these chemicals in our systems, they are having a real impact on our collective health and we need to take responsibility for what we are doing to ourselves and our future generations. Does it even matter who's to blame? Educate yourself on all sides of the issue - there are many valid sources out there. However, the REALLY valid ones don't usually end up on page one of a Google search.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Huff on January 28, 2009 at 10:50am

I agree with everyone who advocates self-education on the issues and making sure we all make informed decisions.

As a pharmaceutical industry professional, I have faith that the FDA is doing what they can with the resources they have. This is not to say they are infallible, but you need to think about where we would be if the FDA wasn't around. I recommend reading Protecting Americas Health: History of the FDA.

I think what doesn't get conveyed adequately is that even with clinical trials and the entire drug approval process, science is not black and white. When you consider the human body is an ever evolving "machine", the FDA would be hard pressed to hit a moving target in terms of mitigating health risks. Also, don't forget to put some accountability on the manufacturers of the components that go into what we use every day (plastics, medication, etc.)

With all of this said, I do my homework and try to make the most informed decisions possible.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Shepard on January 28, 2009 at 11:00am

If aspirin had been invented during the reign of the FDA, it would have never been approved because it significantly increases still births and deforms (25% to 80%) the fetus in all animals except humans. http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/pharm/aspirin/ukpid03.htm

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