We’re suing over carcinogenic ‘flavors’
In May, BCPP and a coalition of health, consumer, and environmental advocacy organizations led by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit aimed at forcing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit the use of seven cancer-causing artificial chemicals to add flavor to food. These chemicals are used in beverages, baked goods, candy, chewing gum, and ice cream (think household favorites like Mentos, Altoids, Life Savers and Red Hots)!
“Chemicals linked to breast cancer, like benzophenone and styrene, should not be hiding in the foods we feed our children. It’s time for the FDA to protect the public health by immediately banning the use of carcinogens masquerading as ‘flavors’ in our food.” Read our press release here.
Science, not silence!
Last month, BCPP joined 68 other national health, medical, academic, and scientific groups to say NO to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “transparency” rule which would place unreasonable restrictions on the science it can use. We strongly oppose the EPA’s efforts to restrict the use of the best available science in its policymaking. Read more about it here.
We are 200,000 strong
We asked you to take action against deadly paint strippers and Lowe’s Home Improvement listened! The team at BCPP is so thankful to all of you who joined action takers from the Mind the Store coalition and helped convince this industry giant to become the first major U.S. retailer to commit to end the sale of these harmful products. Our voices truly matter. Thank you for your commitment to hold corporations accountable for the health of people and the planet!
Salon Product Ingredient Disclosure (AB 2775)
Salon workers, who are overwhelmingly women, are exposed to a broad array of very toxic chemicals in the nail, hair, and beauty products they work with every day. Cosmetologists and their customers don’t have access to information about the toxicity of these products because the law does not require a list of the ingredients in professional salon products on the label, unlike retail cosmetics.
That’s why we teamed up with Black Women for Wellness, Beautycounter, the CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, and Women’s Voices for the Earth to advocate for AB 2775, which would require manufacturers to list ingredients on the labels of professional salon products sold in California. On May 30, AB 2775 passed the CA State Assembly with unanimous bi-partisan support (76 to 0)! Now we are off to the Senate. If all goes well, the bill will head to the Governor’s desk in September. Stay tuned!
Congressional Briefing with Sen. Kamala Harris
On June 6, BCPP organized, and Sen. Kamala Harris hosted, a Congressional briefing on “State of the Evidence: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment.” Board Member and Science Advisory Panel Co-Chair Janet Gray headlined the event, joined by Julia Brody, Executive Director of our partner organization, Silent Spring Institute.
Topics included an overview of the new science linking chemical exposures to increasing rates of breast cancer, as well as the impact on women of color and other vulnerable populations. Our recommended policy solutions addressed community and place-based exposures, toxic consumer products, and occupational exposures. The audience included a mix of Congressional staff and coalition partners. Laying this foundation of science and highlighting the work of BCPP is critical to our effectiveness in Congress.
Chain Reaction: A Tribute to Jeanne Rizzo
At the end of 2018, Jeanne Rizzo, President and CEO of BCPP will retire after 17 years at the organization. Under her leadership, BCPP became a leader in both the breast cancer and environmental health fields, elevated the importance of cancer prevention in the scientific community, and played a significant role in the reduction of toxic chemicals in the marketplace. We invite you to save the date and join us to celebrate Jeanne and her many accomplishments on November 8, 2018 in San Francisco.
