Is BPA In Canned Food: What You Need To Know

Have you ever wondered what BPA is? You’ve likely heard about BPA-Free products either through marketing on packages (ex: BPA-Free Water Bottles) or in the news over the last few years. But what really is BPA? Do you need to be concerned about it? And is BPA in canned food or soft drinks?

I’ll answer all these questions and more in the article below. But first, let’s look at what BPA is and what it’s used for.

What Is BPA And What Is It Used For?

Bisphenol A or BPA for short is an industrial chemical that’s been around since the 1950s. It’s added to certain resins and plastics that are often used to store food or beverages. BPA is also sometimes used in consumer goods like baby bottles (in the past), water bottles, and dental sealants, though with rising health concerns around BPA this practice has either been banned or limited to lower levels allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Is BPA In Canned Food?

The short answer is yes. About 10% of canned food contains BPA. For many years BPA has been used as a thin epoxy lining for canned food and soda cans to protect the contents inside from corrosion. Corroding metal can be hazardous to the food or beverages inside, so BPA was used to protect it. Canned food, including soda cans, is believed to be one of the most common, if not the main source of BPA exposure for people.

+ Do Canned Foods Still Contain BPA?

In recent years, with more awareness of the dangers of BPA to health new lining materials have been used, but that doesn’t mean all canned food is BPA-free now. Typically cans are now lined with acrylic, polyester, olefin polymers, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) copolymers, and non-BPA epoxies.

There are some concerns about what’s called regrettable alternatives though. This is where manufacturers will replace one chemical compound (like BPA) with a different chemical compound that may be even more dangerous to a person’s health, but has a better reputation. An example of this might be in a reusable water bottle labeled as BPA-Free. The manufacturers can remove the BPA from the ingredients which make up the plastic for the bottle, but replace it with Bisphenol S (BPS) or Bisphenol F (BPF). The bottle technically doesn’t have BPA in it, so the manufacturer can label it BPA-Free, but BPS or BPF is considered to be just as dangerous if not more dangerous for one’s health. Based on the current literature, BPS and BPF are as hormonally active as BPA, and they have endocrine-disrupting effects, thus making them regrettable alternatives.

There have been studies that show that 75% of Americans test positive for BPF and BPS in their systems. Other studies have shown that BPS and BPF share similar or even worse endocrine-disrupting effects to that of BPA.

+ What Products Have BPA?

Unfortunately, BPA can be found in many common canned, paper, and plastic products, so there isn’t a way to make an exact list, but below you will find a quick reference list of items that often contain high levels of BPA:

• Plastic Containers
• Canned Food
• Menstrual Products
• Dental Filling Sealants
• Thermal Printer Receipts
• Personal Care Products
• Household Electronics
• Lenses In Glasses

Is BPA In Canned Food Harmful?

Again, the short answer is yes. BPA is a soluble chemical. This means that when BPA comes into contact with liquids or when it is heated, the bond it formed with the plastic can be broken, and BPA can then seep into the contents of the food or beverage touching it, thus contaminating it. One example of this is when a plastic food storage container is placed in the microwave or hot food is placed it in. Once a person ingests the food or beverage the BPA is now in the body.

Studies have shown correlations between Bisphenol (BP) chemical exposure and obesity in both children and adults, breast cancer, and developmental issues in children. BPA specifically has also been linked to increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Researchers believe these health challenges may be occurring because BP is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC).

+ What Does BPA Do To The Body?

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can disrupt many hormonal pathways throughout the body leading to metabolic, developmental, fertility, and immune system issues, among others. This is believed to occur because EDCs interfere with the synthesis, action, and metabolism of hormones. More research needs to be done to understand the true impact BP and other EDCs are having on the human body.

+ Is BPA Carcinogenic?

As of this writing, BPA falls in Group 2B: possibly carcinogenic to humans. More research needs to be done. The biggest concern about BPA is its endocrine-disrupting properties which may play a role in reducing the immune system’s ability to destroy cancer cells when they first form, creating an opportunity for them to replicate and grow in size.

+ How Long Does It Take To Get BPA Out Of Your System?

There is very limited research on this, but currently, researchers believe BPA is excreted from the body within 24 hours. While this doesn’t sound like a long time, a lot of hormonal changes occur inside the body in any given 24-hour period, giving BPA plenty of time to make an impact.

+ How Do I Reduce BPA In My Body?

The best way to do this is by avoiding BPA exposure as much as possible in the first place. This can be done by:

1. Look for BPA-free labels on canned food.
2. Avoid any plastic or plastic-lined food storage containers. This includes take-out containers. Opt for glass whenever possible.
3. Skip touching thermal printer receipts at checkout or whenever possible. If you do have to touch them, wash your hands as soon as possible.
4. Be cautious of “greenwashing” marketing on plastic products that say BPA-Free. Keep in mind it might contain a regrettable alternative. Opt for glass, metal, or platinum silicon.
5. Avoid heating any food or beverage in a plastic container.
6. Avoid putting any hot food, especially fatty foods like sauces, in plastic containers.
7. Opt for fresh organic food and avoid highly processed boxed or canned food whenever possible.

If you’d like to test your level of BPA you can do so through our affiliate partner MillionMarker.com. Use discount code “NIKA“ at checkout for $7 off your body toxicity test kit. Consciouslie will receive a small commission if you use the discount code. We ONLY share links to products or companies that are Consciouslie Approved, meaning we have fully vetted and truly believe in them.

How Do You Avoid BPA In Canned Food?

As mentioned above there are a few options when it comes to avoiding BPA in canned food specifically:

• Don’t buy canned food.
• If you do purchase canned food, look for cans labeled BPA-free.
• If the cans aren’t labeled as BPA-free you can consider contacting the manufacturer and asking what lining material they use. This usually takes some time though.

+ Does Washing Canned Food Remove BPA?

No, washing canned food does not remove BPA. Once BPA has seeped into the food or beverage (which you can’t wash) it remains in it until it’s been ingested.

+ How Do I Know If A Can Is BPA-Free?

The only way to know for sure is if it’s labeled BPA-free or if you’ve contacted the manufacturer directly. If you’re unsure it’s best to avoid it. Keep in mind that even if it’s labeled BPA-free, it may still contain BPS, BPF, or another industrial chemical that could be harmful to your health. The best option is to always opt for fresh, organic produce whenever possible.

Wrapping Up

The best rule of thumb when it comes to BPA in canned food or really any products containing BPA is to limit exposure as much as possible. It’s virtually impossible to avoid it 100%, so don’t stress about that. The goal is to reduce exposure whenever possible. Revisit the list above under How Do I Reduce BPA In My Body, and use that as a daily tool to limit your exposure.

Still have questions? Comment below or message us on Instagram.

References:

1. (FDA.gov) Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application#:~:text=FDA%20has%20amended%20its%20regulations,(ACC)%20%5B9%5D.
2. Bisphenol S and F: A Systematic Review and Comparison of the Hormonal Activity of Bisphenol A Substitutes ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4492270/
3. Bisphenol S in Food Causes Hormonal and Obesogenic Effects Comparable to or Worse than Bisphenol A: A Literature Review https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7071457/
4. Early-life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals associates with childhood obesity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6312913/
5. A review of the carcinogenic potential of bisphenol A https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26493093/