Food and drink containers made with a common chemical would have to be labeled differently if a proposed bill passes in the state Legislature.
More than 3,400 people attended last week’s MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse. While people from all walks of the industry were there, attendees frequently brought up a bill that would require labeling a particular plastic.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical commonly found in plastics and in resins that line canned goods. At this point, the Food and Drug Administration says BPA is safe at low levels, but there are concerns on how it affects the “brains, behavior, and prostate glands of fetuses, babies, and young children.”
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The FDA has banned BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups, and other children’s products.
State Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) has proposed a bill that would require all beverage and food containers that contain BPA to inform consumers of its use on a product’s label. She says consumers worried about the chemical’s potential effects should know if it’s present.
“There might be people out there who don’t mind consuming food with BPA or not concerned about it,“ Taylor said. ”Certainly for those who are, we as consumers should have a way to identify what products are potentially contaminated with BPA.”
Groups like the Wisconsin Grocers Association oppose the bill. Midwest Food Processors Association President Nick George says requiring a BPA label would be costly.
“Ultimately the consumer will pay,” George said, “so whatever has to be done should be done nationally and should be done in a thoughtful manner.”
As the legislative session winds down, the bill remains stalled in the Committee on Consumer Protection.
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