Chemical Industry Seeks Pregnant Woman for Greenwashed Bisphenol-A Ads

Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical found in certain plastics and in canned food, has been blamed for a host of health ills including infertility, diabetes, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Several states including California and Connecticut are in the process of introducing BPA bans, and the chemical and metal packaging industries have decided to ‘fight back’ against the turning tide of public opinion by starting a new PR campaign for the chemical, starring a pregnant woman.

The industry held a secret meeting to discuss ways they can improve BPA’s public image, and reporters at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel got their hands on a leaked internal memo. A snippet, via The Daily Green:

“A pregnant woman would be ‘the holy grail’ to serve as a spokeswoman, the memo says. Attendees said they doubted they could find a scientist to serve as a spokesman for BPA. …

“Other strategies discussed at the meeting included focusing on how BPA bans would disproportionately put minorities at risk, particularly Hispanics and African-Americans who are more inclined to be poor and dependent on canned foods. Committee members said they would try to get stories in the media that spread the message that canned goods made without BPA would be more likely to become contaminated. BPA serves to seal food in cans, helping to keep out bacteria.

The Washington Post explains that the industry is seeking ways to scare consumers – especially young mothers – into ignoring negative information about BPA.

Industry representatives weighed a range of ideas, including “using fear tactics [e.g. "Do you want to have access to baby food anymore?" as well as giving control back to consumers (e.g. you have a choice between the more expensive product that is frozen or fresh or foods packaged in cans) as ways to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging," the notes said.

Thanks for the advance warning, guys – now we all know to totally ignore any bullshit propaganda you put out in an attempt to keep people poisoned because it’s convenient for you.

What’s even more sickening is that a commercial alternative to BPA does exist and has already been implemented in Japan. Perhaps it could be put into use here, too, if only the FDA hadn’t deemed BPA safe largely due to two studies funded by a chemical industry trade group.

This is what kills me about the idea that corporations running the country without government oversight would be a good thing. Because obviously, these corporations have our best interests in mind, huh?

Link [The Washington Post] + [The Daily Green]
Photo credit: Empathy Belly

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