US FDA get sued for failure over banning of packaging chemical

US FDA get sued for failure over banning of packaging chemicalObservers have noted that the U. S. Food and Drug Administration has been sued over its failure to act on a petition to ban a chemical used in food packaging.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported that the lawsuit, filed on Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council, says the FDA failed to act on the council's petition to ban bisphenol A, a chemical used to line the cans of most food products.

The newspaper also said that the advocacy group submitted the petition in 2008. By law, the FDA had 90 days to respond to the petition.

Sarah Janssen, a senior scientist with the council, said, "And 20 months later, the FDA has not responded to that petition, so we are asking the court to intervene and require the FDA to take action."

FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said the agency does not comment on pending lawsuits.

It initially accepted industry-funded studies, which concluded BPA was safe for all uses, says the FDA.

In January, the FDA changed its stance on the chemical because of the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and young children. (With Inputs from Agencies)