Policy Pick: Health Committee Green-lights Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act

The Assembly is expected to vote within two weeks on AB 1319, also known as The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act. The legislation was approved earlier this month by the Assembly Health Committee on a 12-7 vote.

If passed, AB 1319 would prohibit the manufacture, sale or commercial distribution of infant formula, liquid, baby food or beverages in containers that contain Bisphenol A (BPA) at a level above 0.1 parts per billion. The bill would also require manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing BPA in containers.

"It's a shame that we have failed to protect our most vulnerable citizens from this toxic chemical," said Assemblymember Betsy Butler (D-El Segundo), the author of the bill. "Every child from every community in our state deserves access to safe, affordable products. This is a fight worth having because big chemical money should not be allowed to trump the health of babies in California."

Discovered in the 1930s, BPA is a synthetic estrogen now widely used in certain kinds of plastics and epoxy resins, including those commonly found in baby bottles and used to line metal infant formula cans. The chemical leaches out of containers and into food and drink consumed by babies and young children. More than 220 peer-reviewed studies have linked BPA to a host of health problems, including breast and prostate cancer, infertility, obesity and neurological and behavioral changes, including autism and hyperactivity.

While some manufacturers have taken steps to remove BPA from their products, the chemical is still found in a wide range of products. Because of the length and uncertainty of the state's regulatory process, AB 1319 seeks to protect California's babies and children from BPA exposure until the Department of Toxic Substances Control's comprehensive review process is available to independently assess the use of the chemical.

For more information on AB 1319, please contact Ruel Nolledo at RNolledo@First5LA.org.

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