BPA IN OUR FOODS; A HEALTH RISK?
BPA in Our Foods: A Health Risk?
Plastic packaging has become an inseparable part of our
food supply. Many common items such as canned foods,
water bottles, baby bottles, sippy cups, and even dental
sealants, are produced with Bisphenol A (BPA), an
industrial chemical whose effect on health has raised
controversy.
While some consumers avoid using plastic containers and
plastic wrap in microwaves and change over to glass
storing and cooking wear, others believe that synthetic
packaging is safe. Research supports both sides of the
argument. Some sources, such as Bisphenol-A.org, which
represents the American Chemistry Council,
PlasticsEurope, and the Japan Chemical Industry
Association, indicate that “the products manufactured
from bisphenol A pose no known risks to human health
when used for their intended purposes.”1 Others state
that even low-level exposure to BPA can affect human
health from interfering with child birth to causing
cancer.2
Why are the potential problems with BPA?
According to Bisphenol-A.org, BPA exhibits toxic effects
only at very high temperatures, and the potential human
exposure from use of everyday products is 400 times less
than the EPA-established safe level of 0.05 milligrams
per kilogram of body weight per day.3 But the National
Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) recently voiced its concern about the
leaching of BPA into the food supply under “typical
conditions of use,” such as in canned foods, baby
bottles, plastic-bottled beverages, adding that “the
possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development
cannot be dismissed.” In fact, an April 2008 report,
currently open for public comment, stated that “The NTP
concurs with the conclusion…that there is some concern
for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants,
and children at current human exposures. The NTP also
has some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these
populations based on effects in the prostate gland,
mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in
females.”4
One study has found BPA to work as an endocrine
disrupter in the body,5 with exposure to it from fetal
to young age potentially affecting mammary gland
development, as well as causing lesions in the mammary
and prostate gland later in life. Rodent studies point
out the potential for early exposure to lead to cancer
and to affect on brain structure, function and
behavior.6
The FDA Commissioner recently established a BPA Task
Force to review new literature regarding the impact and
safety of the chemical and to take appropriate
regulatory action if the current levels of BPA are found
to be unsafe.7,8 The general consensus is that more
objective research is needed in order to determine the
true effect of BPA on our long-term health, but recent
research implies that we cannot deny the possibility
that BPA may cause serious consequences to human health,
even under “normal” conditions of use.
Is my food packaged with BPA?
Currently there is no requirement for food packaging
manufacturers to disclose the chemicals used in the
development of their products. However, if your products
are made of polycarbonate (such as hard plastic water
bottles), or use an epoxy resin (such as canned foods),
you can assume that Bisphenol A is a part of the
composition.
Some in the food industry are working to develop
affordable BPA-free alternatives to line cans and store
foods, but at this time, most cans are manufactured with
the BPA epoxy. One company, Eden Foods, has worked to
develop a BPA-free oleoresinous (mix of oil and plant
resin) c-enamel lining in their canned beans and bean
products. It sells canned tomato products in BPA
epoxy-containing cans, however, stating that the acidity
of tomatoes is too strong for the natural resin they use
with their beans. (For more information, visit
www.edenfoods.com.)
A 2007 report by Environment California and a 2008
report by the Work Group for Safe Markets, showed that
five popular brands of polycarbonate baby bottles leach
BPA at levels found to cause harm in numerous animal
studies, with more BPA leaching from older bottles and
heated bottles.9,10 Health Canada, the government body
overseeing public health and safety in Canada, is
considering a ban on the import, sale and advertising of
BPA-containing baby bottles, with the Minister of Health
stating that “Early development is sensitive to the
effects of Bisphenol-A.”11 Companies such as Nalgene are
producing BPA-free water bottles and even phasing out
their BPA-containing outdoor line, and Walmart announced
they will stop selling BPA-containing baby bottles.12
How can I avoid BPA?
While the safety or danger of BPA-containing products
remains unproven, some choose to minimize exposure to
BPA. Here are a few suggestions:
· Cook food from scratch, using fresh produce,
dry beans, and natural meats. For convenience, cook
large quantities and freeze leftovers in Pyrex
(www.pyrexware.com) glassware containers for later use.
· Avoid microwaving, cooking and storing foods in
plastic containers. Instead, reuse pasta sauce jars, or
purchase Pyrex containers.
· Purchase foods in glass or standing cardboard
containers (tetra pak or SIG Combibloc). In addition to
containing no BPAs, these can often be recycled.
· Purchase drinking water, juice or tea in a
glass jar. Clean the bottle frequently and reuse. If you
are concerned about dropping the bottle, consider
purchasing a neoprene or other material sleeve to slip
over your bottle for protection.
· For more durable bottles, consider stainless
steel options such as Kleen Kanteen
(www.kleankanteen.com/). Many select the SIGG aluminum
water bottle (www.mysigg.com) with a resin coating, but
the composition of their coating is proprietary, and may
contain BPA.
· Avoid foods contained in plastics #7 (indicated
with a “PC” (polycarbonate) or the #7 recycling label
shown below. Most #7 plastics contain polycarbonate.
Instead, look for plastics #1, #2, and #4, which do not
contain BPA.
· Medela brand breast pumps
(www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/) and Born Free baby
bottles and products (www.newbornfree.com) are labeled
as BPA-free. (Visit the Environmental Working Group Web
site to download their guides on Baby Safe Bottles and
Formula and Tips to Avoid BPA Exposure
www.ewg.org/chemindex/chemicals/23297.)
· Amazon.com maintains a list of BPA-free
products; however, shop with caution. These products are
“tagged” BPA-free by other shoppers and are not
researched to ensure the accuracy of these claims.
By Cathy Burke, RYT
Director of Education
