On January 21, 2015 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced that it considers bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) to pose no health risk to consumers of any age group at current exposure levels. EFSA performed a comprehensive re-evaluation of BPA safety and the results are now published as a scientific opinion in the EFSA Journal. The re-evaluation was triggered by the growing number of scientific publications linking BPA to various health conditions. The opinion has undergone two public consultations. Stakeholders have commented on assessment of human exposure to BPA via dietary and non-dietary sources (FPF reported) and assessment of BPA toxicology and human health risks (FPF reported). New data available as well as refined methodologies have led EFSA’s experts to reduce the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of BPA from 50 to 4 µg/kg body weight/day. Nevertheless, EFSA stresses that the highest dietary exposure estimates as well as the aggregate exposure estimates taking into account all major exposure sources (diet, dust, cosmetics and thermal paper) are three to five times lower than the new TDI, depending on the age group. Furthermore, uncertainties surrounding various potential health effects of BPA have been factored into the calculation of the TDI. The new TDI may, however, still change based on the outcome of the research conducted by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) expected in the next two to three years. EFSA further points out that only high doses of BPA (100-fold above the TDI) are likely to adversely affect the kidney and liver and cause effects on the mammary gland in animals. Also, available data do not provide evidence in support of low-dose effects of BPA, EFSA says.
On December 5, 2014 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also reaffirmed its position that BPA is safe at current exposure levels (previously reported on by the FPF).
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EFSA (January 21, 2015) “No consumer health risk from bisphenol A exposure.”
EFSA (January 21, 2015). “Scientific Opinion on the risks to public health related to the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in foodstuffs.” EFSA Journal 2015;13(1):3978
EFSA (January 21, 2015). “Report on the two-phase public consultation on the draft EFSA scientific opinion on bisphenol A (BPA).”
