BPA
- Just not in Plastic Bottles
BPA (Bishphenol A )is not just lurking in those plastic
bottles and plastic wrap.
Canned Foods
Canned foods are thought to be the predominate route of BPA
exposure. Numerous studies support this fact, including
an investigation
of BPA exposures for 257 young children in North Carolina
and Ohio day care centers. Researchers collected samples
of the air,
water, dust, hand wipes and the daily diet and attributed
99 percent of children’s daily BPA exposures to
food. Despite this fact, very little canned food testing
has been performed.
Both the Plastics Industry and FDA have based their safety
or exposure assessments for BPA on incredibly few canned
food tests,
fewer than 20 in both cases.
EWG tested foods and beverages from nearly 100 cans purchased
in grocery stores in three states. EWG tested 28 different types
of foods including canned fruits, vegetables, pasta, beans, infant
formula, meal replacements and canned milk. They tested 1 to 6
samples of each type food. BPA levels varied from less the detection
limit to a maximum level of 385 micrograms BPA per kilogram food
(a part per billion).
• Buy prepared foods in jars when possible–especially
tomatoes and tomato sauce.
• Opt for fresh produce when you can, choose frozen produce over
canned.
•
Use dried beans instead of canned beans–here are some quick
cooking tips!
Infant Formula
All U.S. manufacturers use BPA-based lining on the metal portions
of infant formula containers. Tests of liquid formulas by FDA
and EWG show that BPA leaches into the formula from all brands
tested. Enfamil formula appears to have the highest concentrations
of the 20 tests.
BPA is commonly
used to strengthen plastic and line food cans–and the
FDA thinks it isn’t
all that bad, apparently ignoring the findings of numerous
prominent and
previously studies.
A safer alternative
for water containers are steel bottles that have no coating
such as Kleen
Kanteen and the ever-beautiful SIGG bottles.
