I teach housekeeping. My goal is to ensure my students learn how to keep a safe, healthy home.

I have followed the progress of a citizen petition to the Maine Board of Environmental Protection to remove the toxic chemical Bisphenol A from baby and toddler food sold in Maine. BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical linked to learning disabilities, cancer and obesity. It is found in the lining of canned foods and lids of baby food jars.

On Jan. 3, the Maine DEP acknowledged that babies are exposed to BPA in baby food and that safer alternatives are available. In spite of this, the DEP recommended that the BEP only support the ban on BPA in infant formula cans and not require the ban on baby and toddler food packaging.

That does nothing. The Federal Food and Drug Administration has already banned BPA in infant formula packaging.

Fortunately, the BEP, an independent board, will make the decision on whether to ban BPA from baby food jars and toddler canned food.

As parents, we make the best decisions we can but who among us can devote the time to research the chemistry behind the packaging of our food? We must find organizations that we trust to inform us of these dangers.

In a sane and reasonable society, there would be no hesitation at the BEP nor with packaging manufacturers to stop using BPA.

Betty Allen, Auburn