Measured Levels Below Thresholds of Concern

Consumer Reports recently released data on measurable levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in canned foods should not be viewed as a cause for public alarm. The values seen in the study - measured in parts per billion - were below the lowest regulatory threshold of concern set by government scientists and do not pose a health risk to consumers of all ages.

“We are extremely disappointed that Consumer Reports failed to provide its readers with the full story on BPA in canned foods,” noted Dr. John Rost, chairman of the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. (NAMPA). “BPA-based epoxy coatings in metal packaging provide real, important and measurable health benefits by reducing the potential for the serious and often deadly effects from food-borne illnesses. This packaging enables the high temperature sterilization of food products when initially packaged and continuously protect against microbial contaminants. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) records, there has not been an incidence of food-borne illness resulting from a failure of metal packaging in the U.S. in more than 30 years.”

“It is also unfortunate that Consumer Reports neglected to report on a very important study recently released in the peer-reviewed Journal ofToxicological Sciences,” continued Dr. Rost. “This study, conducted by scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency, provides strong new scientific evidence that exposure to BPA, even at extremely low doses described by Consumer Reporters, is safe.”

Regulatory agencies across the globe all agree BPA is safe for use in food packaging applications. Although FDA is the focus of Consumer Reports article, it is not the only regulatory agency engaged in a review of BPA and food contact applications. As recently as July 2009, a California government review panel carefully reviewed all the available data on BPA and concluded that it should NOT be listed as a toxicant under California''s Proposition 65 program. Indeed, all of the major food safety agencies worldwide -- the European Food Safety Authority, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, and Germany -- are in agreement on the safe use of BPA.

About NAMPA

The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. and its members support sound science and trust the scientific review process that has protected our food supply for decades. For further information, visit www.metal-pack.org.

Contacts:

for NAMPA
Michelle Lancaster, 202-223-4933
mlancaster@stantoncomm.com