The food safety bill passed in the House in July of last year with wide bipartisan support. In the Senate, however, the bill has not moved quickly due to disagreement over a BPA proposal by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). A few months ago, Feinstein stated that she wanted to add language banning bisphenol A (BPA) from food packaging. Groups supported her proposal, but some groups including the chemical industry and food manufacturers were adamantly opposed and threatened to withdraw their support if the bill included a ban on BPA.
Representative John Dingell (D-MI) sent a letter to Feinstein accusing her of holding up Senate action on the bill. Dingell wrote that the House bill, "would grant vast new authorities to the Food and Drug Administration and mark the first serious reform of food safety laws in 70 years." Dingell stated, "Our choices are becoming increasingly clear, we can either find middle ground, or we can become obstinate in our views and fail to meet any of our goals" as reported by The Hill Blog.
Feinstein replied that she was not stalling the bill and that Dingell should have contacted her personally, rather than in a public manner. She wrote that Senate leadership asked her to work with Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) to come to a compromise on BPA and that if a compromise was not possible she would offer an amendment on the floor.
To read the Washington Post story, click here.
To read The Hill Blog story, click here.
Posted: 7/21/2010