Bisphenol A ban left out of Senate food safety compromise

A provision banning the toxic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) was left out of a bipartisan food safety compromise unveiled Thursday by the Senate health panel.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the provision's champion, said she would offer an amendment banning BPA from baby bottles, sippy cups, baby food and infant formula when the food safety bill comes to the Senate floor.

"I believe that we need legislation to protect consumers, especially babies and toddlers, from harmful chemicals," Feinstein said. "Because of their smaller size and stage of development, babies and children are particularly at risk from the harmful health effects of BPA."

The food safety bill would give the Food and Drug Administration the power to recall tainted food, quarantine geographical areas and access food producers’ records. 

The House passed its version of food safety legislation in July 2009.