http://www.care2.com/greenliving/stop-eating-bpa.html
Stop Eating BPA
By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Care2
Is it just me–or is it really maddening that we are pelted with industrial toxins and told by governmental regulating agencies that they are safe? I am generally a happy person, but I must confess that there are a number of chemicals and compounds that seriously put a bee in my bonnet–Bishphenol A (BPA) is one of them.
BPA is a heavily produced industrial compound that has been detected in more than 2,000 people worldwide, including more than 95 percent of 400 people tested in a study in the United States. More than 100 peer-reviewed studies have found BPA to be toxic at low dose. 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 well-regarded studies.
Once again, it’s up to us as consumers to regulate our exposure to toxic products. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), completely eliminating exposure to BPA may not be possible, but there are steps you can take to reduce your family’s exposure to this chemical. Here are some guidelines adapted from the EWG website:
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.
The only solution here is to use alternatives to canned formula. If you have found a formula that is listed as BPA-free, please tell us about it in the comment field!
Plastics to Avoid
When possible it is best to avoid #7 plastics, especially for children’s food. Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are safer choices and do not contain BPA.
• Find baby bottles in glass versions, or those made from the safer plastics including polyamine, polypropylene and polyethylene.
• Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
• Bottles used to pump and store expressed breast milk by the brand Medela are also labeled BPA-free.
• Many metal water bottles are lined with a plastic coating that contains BPA. Look for stainless steel bottles that do not have a plastic liner.
• Read about plastic and food storage here.
While the levels of BPA that leach from hard plastics is generally low, we recommend avoiding use of plastic containers to heat food in microwaves. Ceramic, glass, and other microwaveable dishware are good alternatives. Avoid using old and scratched plastic bottles.
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39 comments
add your comment »...whoops! ran out of room! Here is the end of my my comment.
These tests were based on a detection level at 5 ppb (parts per billion), the lowest detection level currently available.
If you should have any further questions, please contact Customer Service.
Sincerely,
Sandra K. Baker
Customer Service
800-248-0320
www.edenfoods.com
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why is this inappropriate?
Hi, Melissa. I wanted to share this response I received from Eden Organics on their canned products and BPAs. I hope this will help educate others...
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for contacting Eden Foods and your interest in Eden products.
Can linings are used in the food industry to separate acidic foods from the metal of the can so that the natural acidity of the food does not corrode the can. Some linings, referred to as “functional”, contain zinc oxide that prevents black sulfide discoloration. This may be utilized in canning high acid foods such as Eden Organic Tomatoes and is visible as a white lining. Other linings are called “nonfunctional” and are clear. This is the type of can Eden Organic Beans are packed in. The lining in our organic bean cans is a baked on c-enamel lining. Eden Organic Beans are packed in tin covered steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous (a natural mixture of an oil and a resin Extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir) c-enamel lining that does not contain bisphenol-A. These cans cost 14% more than the industry standard cans, which do contain bisphenol-A.
Eden Organic Tomatoes are packed in tin covered steel cans coated with a baked on r-enamel lining. Due to the acidity of tomatoes, the lining is epoxy based and may contain a minute amount of bisphenol-A, it is however in the 'non detectable' range according to independent laboratory Extraction Tests. These tests were based on a detection leve
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why is this inappropriate?
Is there a way to "de-BPA" your body? In other words, can you REMOVE BPA from your body once it's in there?
I'm especially concerned about my dog who has been eating canned salmon for the past two years. . .
Also, does anyone know of a company that sells basic tomato products in jars (ie: puree, chopped tomatoes)?
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this is scary yet we trust the government with stuff like this? what kind of guide lines do they go by?
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Thanks for the info. God bless you always!
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scary stuff
The scientific world and the federal gov need to agree on what's safe and what's not. Who are we suppose to listen to?
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I agree that a list of BPA canned food companies would be great--unfortunately, to the best of my research, I can only find one company that has a firm policy--Eden Organics, as mentioned above. And, their tomato products are NOT BPA-free because the acid content is too strong for their alternate lining. Some Trader Joe's products and some Whole Foods products are BPA-free, but not all. Many of the big natural canned food manufacturers claim they are working on BPA-free cans, but that it is so industry-wide that it is a very hard problem to tackle. Uhg. For now, look for brands that advertise their product as BPA-free or use Eden Organics.
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Hi Jennifer M: For a (depressing and scary) study on the toxins and their sources found in pets, there is this report from the Environmental Working Group:
http://www.ewg.org/reports/pets
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Ya~!we should be awared of our import of food's resource, especially PRC's. It's really dangerous.
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what about canned pet food? And are the bags that my pet food comes in safe? they have a coating on them.
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