Bisphenol A or BPA is the building block for a hard, strong plastic used to make a variety of products, including compact disks, cash register receipts, and water bottles. In the past several years, the potential health risks associated with the chemical have been well demonstrated.
 
Even at minimal levels, daily exposure to BPA has been associated with adverse health effects, from behavioral issues in children to malformations during organ development. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a report identifying the possible hazards to fetuses, infants, and young children – later requiring that BPA be removed from all baby bottles and infant formula. Yet, BPA is still used in a wide range of food packaging.
 
To fully protect children from exposure to this chemical, we must also protect pregnant women and the foods they and young children may ingest. Therefore, we will be introducing legislation to ban the use of BPA in all food and beverage containers manufactured, sold, or distributed in Pennsylvania. Any manufacturer of these containers will be required to use the least toxic alternative when replacing BPA during production.
 
Please join us in supporting legislation to protect Pennsylvanians from BPA contamination and encourage innovation for safer, alternative packaging.