Calling for Ban of BPA in Baby/Toddler Products

February 17, 2010

USA Today

States are moving to ban the chemical BPA from food and drink containers, primarily those meant for infants and toddlers, because of health concerns.
Many baby bottles, such as this one by Born Free that actor Matthew McConaughey is using, are now made without the estrogen-like chemical BPA or bisphenol A.  A dozen states are considering restrictions this year on bisphenol A, an estrogen-like chemical used to harden plastics in products such as bottles and cups. It is also in the linings of metal cans, including infant formula, to help them withstand high sterilization temperatures.

The Food and Drug Administration, which previously called BPA safe, announced last month that, in light of new studies, it has “some concerns” about the chemical’s potential effects on brain development of fetuses, infants and children. It did not say BPA is unsafe.
Many large manufacturers of baby bottles now sell products that are free of the chemical BPA, or bisphenol A. “This announcement has added momentum to the efforts to restrict the uses of this dangerous chemical once and for all,” says Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., author of a pending bill to ban BPA from food and drink containers. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.., has a similar proposal in the Senate.

Activists, including the Environmental Working Group and the Natural Resources Defense Council, cite studies that link BPA to breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other health problems.

Bans are “not necessary,” says Steve Hentges, a BPA specialist at the American Chemistry Council, which opposes the bans.  He says research shows BPA is safe.

“It’s a ripe state issue,” says Adam Schafer, executive director of the non-profit National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, because BPA is not federally regulated. He says more parents are concerned and major retailers have stopped selling baby bottles with BPA.

Last year, Connecticut and Minnesota passed the first state bans on BPA in food and drink containers intended for children 3 and younger. Chicago and Suffolk County, N.Y., took similar action.

Canada became the first country to ban BPA use in baby bottles.

“There’s growing public pressure but also lobbying to weaken or delay state efforts,” says California’s Democratic Sen. Fran Pavley, who is pushing such a bill.

This year:

•In Washington state, both legislative chambers have passed bans on BPA use in bottles and cups for babies and toddlers. The Assembly added sports bottles, too.
•Wisconsin’s Senate approved banning BPA use in bottles and cups for children 3 and younger.
•In Oregon, a similar bill is headed to the Senate floor as early as today.
Bills are also pending in Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington, D.C., Schafer says.

Here are a few things to know about BPA, as summarized from an advisory by the Department of Health and Human Services:
•Plastic containers have triangular recycling codes on the bottom. Some numbered 3 and 7 may contain BPA. Those numbered 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 very likely do not.
•Do not put warm or hot liquids into BPA containers.
•Do not use them if scratched.
•Most baby bottles are BPA-free because of voluntary changes by major manufacturers. Pacifiers and toys use materials without BPA.

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The New Terrifying, No-Electronics U.S. Flight Security Rules

December 26, 2009

Gizmodo

By Chris Jacob

That failed terrorist attack yesterday might make international flights a whole lot less enjoyable. Passengers are reporting that new restrictions are in place, and their severity varies flight-to-flight. Among the reports, a rumor: No electronics.

Again, these are isolated incidents, and there’s still no official word from TSA. But in certain instances, some passengers are reporting that electronics usage on inbound U.S. flights is restricted. We’ll let you know if an official announcement comes.

The New York Times is reporting that no one will be able to move from their seats during the last hour of flight. That means no bathroom breaks, no accessing carry-on luggage, nothing. When that plane starts descending, you’re planted.

Multiple sources, among them Xeni Jardin of Boing Boing, have also been told that no electronics are allowed on international flights. None. So you can’t even play video games to distract yourself from how badly you have to pee.

From what we can tell, this is largely restricted to inbound international flights. TSA hasn’t made any announcements yet either, so hopefully this is either a temporary measure, or the restrictions will be less severe once the official policy becomes clearer.

So much for using those free in-flight Wi-Fi codes we told you about. If you’re flying today, tell us what you hear.

Click here for the full report

AIG CEO Takes $10.5 Million Dollar Compensation Package

November 25, 2009

CNN Money

By Ben Rooney

After balking at government imposed pay restrictions, American International Group’s chief executive Robert Benmosche has officially agreed to a non-compete contract that could total $10.5 million, the company announced Tuesday.

Benmosche, who was named CEO in August, had expressed frustration with the constraints placed on AIG by the government after the global insurance company was bailed out last year.

He reportedly threatened to quit his post in board meetings earlier this month, before issuing a statement saying he is “totally committed” to staying on as CEO.

AIG spokesman Mark Herr said Benmosche agreed to a “non-compete” contract and that he is “committed to staying” at AIG.

Benmosche is one of several high-level executives at seven private companies under the purview of the Obama administration’s “pay czar” Kenneth Feinberg.

In October, Feinberg unveiled a series of drastic pay cuts for 136 top executives at seven of the nation’s biggest bailed-out companies, including AIG (AIG, Fortune 500), Citigroup (C, Fortune 500), and Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500).

AIG received a $182 billion lifeline from the government last year as the credit crisis forced the company to the brink of collapse. In exchange, the government took an 80% ownership stake in the company.

Despite ongoing criticism of the company’s compensation practices, Benmosche successfully negotiated the largest award of any CEO under the government’s new curbs on executive pay.

In a press release, AIG said it will implement Benmosche’s previously announced compensation agreement, which includes a $3 million base salary and $4 million in AIG common stock.

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FDA May Put Restrictions on Tylenol

The Food and Drug Administration has assembled more than 35 experts to discuss ways to prevent overdose with acetaminophen – the pain-relieving, fever-reducing ingredient in Tylenol and dozens of other prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Despite years of educational campaigns and other federal actions, acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S., sending 56,000 people to the emergency room annually, according to the FDA.

The agency today asked its experts to consider a range of options: adding a “black box” warning label to the products, lowering the drug dosage in some products, or pulling certain types of medications off the market.

The drugs that could be pulled off shelves are combination medications, such as Procter & Gamble’s NyQuil or Novartis’ Theraflu, which combine acetaminophen with other ingredients that treat cough and runny nose.

The FDA says patients often pair them with a pure acetaminophen medication, like Tylenol, exposing themselves to unsafe levels of the drug.

But the industry group that represents Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth and other companies defended the products today, saying they pose a relatively small risk to patients.

Only 10 percent of deaths linked to acetaminophen medications involved over-the-counter combination cold medications, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

The majority of deaths were caused by either single-ingredient drugs or prescription strength combination drugs like Percocet, which combines oxycodone and acetaminophen.

“We believe there is a clear health benefit of over-the-counter combination products containing acetaminophen,” said Linda Suydam, the group’s president.

The FDA is not required to follow the advice of its panels, though it usually does. The panel vote is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Manufacturers could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in sales if combination drugs are pulled from the market. Total sales of all acetaminophen drugs reached $2.6 billion last year, with 80 percent of the market comprised of over-the-counter products.

Tylenol-maker Johnson & Johnson also pushed back against a proposal to lower the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen, which is currently 4 grams daily, or eight pills of a medication like Extra Strength Tylenol.

While taking more than 4 grams per day can cause liver injury, J&J argued that taking the exact dose is proven to treat osteoarthritis pain.

J&J also warned panelists that any new restrictions on acetaminophen would force patients to switch to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which carry risks of gastrointestinal bleeding and sometimes fatal kidney injury.

“When switching occurs, the risk of death increases,” said Dr. Kenneth Rothman, a consultant for J&J. According to figures from Rothman, a 30 percent switch away from acetaminophen would result in an additional 5,000 deaths per year.

Top-sellers in the anti-inflammatory drug market include Bayer AG’s aspirin and Wyeth’s Advil.

Executives from Wyeth scheduled a series of media briefings last week, arguing there’s no evidence that the reduced use of acetaminophen would cause more negative side effects with their drug.

“There are major flaws in their arguments that are not born out in real world experience,” said Dr. Paul Desjardins, a vice president with Wyeth.

Desjardins pointed out that the U.K. has put tighter safety measures in place for acetaminophen without causing increased problems with Advil and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

For its part, the FDA has made clear it will not play king-maker in the market for over-the-counter medications. The agency says its only goal is to reduce liver injury, “not to decrease appropriate acetaminophen use or to drive people to use NSAIDS instead.”

Click here to read the full report from the Associated Press.