The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published on 29 January 2007 an Opinion related to 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A). The Panel had been asked to re-evaluate the use of bisphenol A in plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, giving particular attention to the exposure of infants. BPA is present in certain food contact materials because it is used in the production of polycarbonate and epoxy-phenolic resins. The latter materials are used as an internal protective lining for food and beverage cans and as a coating on metal lids for glass jars and bottles. The Panel concluded that the new studies provided a basis for revising uncertainty factors that had previously been used to derive a temporary TDI of 0.01 mg/kg bw in 2002. On this basis, the EFSA concluded that the TDI could safely return to its original level of 0.05 mg/kg bw. EFSA estimated that the amount of bisphenol A that people, including infants and children, consume through food is well below the new TDI.
