BPA (Bishphenol A )is not just lurking in those plastic bottles and plastic wrap.
Canned Foods
Canned foods are thought to be the predominant 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 previous studies.
