MINNEAPOLIS, May 6, 2008—David Wallinga, M.D., MMA member and director of of food and health at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, co-authored a commentary on the bisphenol-A controversy that appeared in Tuesday's Star Tribune opinion pages.

"Wouldn't it be nice," Wallinga and co-author Lindsay Dahl asked, "to go into any store in Minnesota and know that any baby bottle for sale there is safe?"

Wallinga and Dahl commended efforts by Sen. Sandy Rummel, DFL-White Bear Lake, and Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, to author a bill that addresses the problem of toxic plastics. The goal of the Safe Baby Products bill is to take BPA and other toxic plastics out of children's products sold in Minnesota.

What the controversy underscores is that a larger problem exists with the U.S. government's oversight of chemicals in ordinary consumer goods. The current trend toward deregulation endangers public health — especially the health of people unable to advocate for themselves.

Wallinga and Dahl predicted more recalls in the months ahead. "We have a broken system," they wrote, "and we will have to change the
way the government regulates chemicals before we can be sure the products we buy for our children and families are safe."

Lindsay Dahl is coordinator for Healthy Legacy, a statewide coalition of 29 organizations dedicated to product safety.

Star Tribune commentary