01 Sep BPA in Cans
BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is a chemical that has been used since the 1960s to make certain resins and plastics.
BPA can be found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in food containers and water bottles.
Epoxy resins are used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, bottle tops and water supply lines.
One of the nastiest endocrine disruptor on the market, BPA has been linked to a variety of serious disorders, including cancer, reproductive damage and heart disease. It can dangerously effect the brain and behavior of fetuses, infants and children.
More and more BPA-free products have come to market. They are usually labeled BPA free.1
But I bet you haven’t heard this: Consumers have NO reliable way of knowing which canned foods use BPA-based epoxy in their linings. Crazy, right?
The Environmental Working Group developed this report to help consumers like you determine which products contain BPA and which brands you can count on for BPA-free products.
After scrutinizing more than 250 brands of canned food, EWG analysts found that while many companies have publicly pledged to stop using BPA in their cans, more than 110 brands still line all or some of their metal cans with an epoxy resin containing BPA.
EWG divides the brands into four categories: those using cans with BPA, those using BPA-free cans for some products, those always using BPA-free cans and those that are unclear. That way, you can tell exactly which products to seek out and which to avoid.
Federal regulations don’t require manufacturers to label their products so you can identify cans with BPA-based linings. That’s why EWG stepped up to do this research — so you have the resources you need to avoid BPA and shop smarter.
To see the report just follow this link
BPA in Canned Food: Behind the Brand Curtain
References:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm064437.htm
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