NEWS
06/21/1993

<TITLE>FDA proposed to ban the use of lead-soldered cans for foods sold in the United States.</TITLE>
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                        PRESS RELEASE

P93-26                              Food and Drug Administration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                Chris Lecos -- (202) 205-4144

The Food and Drug Administration today proposed to ban the use of lead-
soldered cans for foods sold in the United States.
The proposed regulation would affect imported foods. FDA estimates that, at
most, 10 percent of imported foods are packaged in such cans.  U.S.
manufacturers have reported to FDA that they stopped using lead-soldered food
cans in late 1991.
"Children are especially vulnerable to lead exposure, and   we've been
working with industry to cut lead exposure wherever we can," said FDA
Commissioner David A. Kessler, M.D., "In 1979, 90 percent of canned foods were
in lead-soldered containers.  Today's proposal would bring that number to
zero."
The proposed ban, announced in today's Federal Register, would go into
effect six months after FDA publishes a final regulation.  Retailers would
have up to one year after that to dispose of existing stocks of foods in lead-
soldered containers.  
Lead solder used to seal the side seams of a can contributes most of the
lead found in foods packaged in such containers.  Solder is not applied to the
inside of a can.  However, some solder bleeds through the ends, or laps, of
the side seam to make a strong, leakproof can.  In recent years, canning
technology has advanced so that lead solder is no longer necessary.
                                      -MORE-


                                         Page 2, P93-26, Lead cans
 On April 1, FDA announced, as an interim measure, that it would take
enforcement action against food products in lead-soldered cans if the amount
of lead released exceeded 80 parts per billion (ppb) for canned fruit
beverages and 250 ppb for all other foods in lead-soldered containers.
 Seventeen countries have informed FDA that they do not export foods to the
United States in lead-soldered cans.  In addition, almost 99 percent of the
Canadian food industry does not use them.    Lead is an environmental
contaminant that is found in air, water and soil.  When absorbed into the
bloodstream, it can cause widespread injury to the body, particularly to the
central and peripheral nervous system, red blood cells and the renal system. 
No safe intake level has been determined for lead.
 Lead is especially harmful to the developing brain and nervous system of
infants and children.  Adverse health effects of lead exposure in these
population groups can occur at lower blood levels than in adults.  Further, an
infant or child can ingest, absorb and retain a larger amount of lead per unit
of body weight than an adult.
 The public has 60 days to submit written comments to:  Dockets Management
Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration,         Rm. 1-23, 12420
Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20857.
 FDA is one of eight Public Health Service agencies within HHS.

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