photo by: estres
In case you have not heard the Washington Post obtained notes from a private meeting in which executives from Coco-Cola, Del Monte, The American Chemistry Council to name a few held to devise tactics to imporove the reputation of BPA (bisphenol a). The minutes bear such resemblance to leaked information from the tobacco industry. My favorite is their presumption that it would be unlikely to get a scientific spokesperson. Then they go on to prey on pregnant women saying, their “holy grail” would be a “pregnant young mother who would be wiling to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA”.
Why would there be such concern from the BPA industry? Well they are going to try to tell you there is nothing harmful from this chemical and that the alternatives are so much more expensive, but what they really mean is that BPA is a multi-billion dollar industry and they want to protect their money. Now I cannot say that the decline of the BPA industry will not have some negative effects, multi-billion dollar companies employ many people. Of course most of those people make minimum wage and only a few make the big bucks, but none the less there are jobs that will be lost. Which is why, given the current economic climate, I am not for an all out ban. What I am for is FULL DISCLOSURE so that consumers can make their own fully informed choice and a ban for use in products like baby bottles and sippys.
What it boils down to is years of scientific research documenting negative health effects from BPA exposure (from cancer, to reproductive damage, to neurological disorders) and these companies looking the other way instead of looking for safer alternatives. These companies are gambling with your health and the health of your children in the name of making money. If you think this is as ridiculous as I do, let everyone around you know about this deception. If not, I am sure these companies will pay handsomely for their “young pregnant spokesperson”.
Full Washington Post Article
Summary of Linked Minutes from Environmental Working Group
If you want to tell Coco-Cola and Del Monte what you think:
Coca-Cola: 1-800-GET-COKE, then press 2
Del Monte: 1-800-543-3090
