Natural Resources Defense Council et al.; Filing of Food Additive Petition

For reasons we description in the attachment, we object to FDA's decision and request a formal evidentiary public hearing. The objectors are Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Clean Water Action, Environmental Working Group, and Improving Kids' Environment

To Whom It May Concern: Attached is a document containing the comments of 21,249 Environmental Defense Fund supporters from across the country who have submitted electronic comments regarding "Natural Resources Defense Council et al.; Denial of Food Additive Petition." The comment they each submitted reads: "I am writing today out of deep concern over the FDA's decision to allow the continued use of perchlorate in packaging. Please do what is right for Americans, and end this dangerous practice. Allowing the use of perchlorate in packaging to continue puts our kids needlessly at risk. By inhibiting the thyroid's ability to produce T4, this endocrine disruptor directly inhibits brain development in infants and young children, and even in the developing fetus. Your decision to not fully recognize the dangers posed by this practice is based on flawed assumptions and outdated science that we now know to be contrary to the facts. Test provided by the chemical's manufacturer late in 2015 show that perchlorate did in fact migrate into food. And since the FDA approved the use in 2005, the amount of perchlorate that infants and toddlers ingest has increased significantly and more types of food have been contaminated. It's even in infant rice cereal--usually the very first type of solid food our children eat, robbing them of their full potential before they've even had a chance. This decision is irresponsible. Please reverse it immediately, end the use of perchlorate in food packaging, and protect our children's future." Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns about these submissions. Thank you for your consideration, Heather Shelby Manager, Grassroots Organizing & Activism Environmental Defense Fund hshelby@edf.org