CT first state to ban BPA in food cans, MA still lagging
Last week, Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a bill that made Connecticut the first state to ban the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) from infant formula and baby food cans and jars, as well as the full range of reusable food and beverage containers! The BPA bill passed with only one vote cast in opposition. It was truly a bipartisan victory!
Now two Republican Governors, in Connecticut and Minnesota (did not include baby food cans), have signed laws banning BPA in children's products. The people of Massachusetts deserve the same protection as the people in these states. We don't even need to pass a law! So it should be much easier to do in Massachusetts.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) has the legal power in Massachusetts to ban the sale of toxic household products and can insist that the products on our store shelves are safer for children. Thus, we have been working with them over the last year to issue a sales ban on BPA in children's products. The DPH needs the Governor's support so AHT supporters collected 8,490 messages to the governor and over 150 phone calls in support of the sales ban.
Unfortunately, we still have not heard from either the Governor or the DPH. Let's keep the pressure on by getting Letters to the Editor Published in newspapers across the state calling for action. Can you get a letter published in your local paper? If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please contact us and we will send you instructions.
We need action from the Governor and the DPH now, not tomorrow because it is unacceptable to put so many children's lives at risk!
