EFSA Talking BPA Again

The EU’s top food safety advisor, EFSA (Parma, Italy), is planning a full re-evaluation of human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in contact food materials for May 2013. EFSA recently began a new risk assessment procedure that focuses especially on population groups that are vulnerable to exposure and potential low-dose effects.

As part of its assessment, EFSA says ongoing studies on low-dose exposure effects will be considered as results become available. Data will be shared amongst EU member states and the United States. Toxicology experts will also convene at an international Colloquium on BPA to be held in Parma, Italy on June 14-15 (registration closes on May 4).

EFSA completed a full risk assessment of BPA back in 2006, when it set a Tolerable Daily Intake (TFI) of 0.05 mg/kb of body weight for the substance. The TDI still stands, having been reconsidered in 2008, 2010, and 2011. EFSA recently evaluated BPA exposure through food and beverages for all major population groups and found that “exposure was well below the TDI.”