Unfortunately, it is hard to avoid this ubiquitous chemical—it is estimated that more than seven billion pounds of BPA is produced each year¹ and it is found in everything from municipal water pipes, cash register receipts and water bottles to plastic flatware and the plastic work bowls of food processors and blenders. BPA is also used to make the epoxy resins used to line food and beverage cans, bottle tops, aseptic containers, boxed frozen foods, microwaveable food containers and even dental sealant. The chemical is also found in medical equipment, sports equipment and electronics.^{2 3} It is everywhere, including our bodies. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 93 percent of the American population has detectable levels of BPA in their blood.^{4 5 6}

The problem with BPA is that it is a xenoestrogen, which means that it mimics the effects of the hormone estrogen in our bodies. Scientists first discovered that BPA was a synthetic estrogen in 1938⁷ , and before the chemical industry began using BPA in the 40s and 50s to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, it was used as a pharmaceutical hormone.⁸ But since then, hundreds of animal studies have shown that even at low-level doses⁹ , BPA can lead to miscarriages, birth defects and mental retardation, early puberty, infertility, breast and prostate cancers and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.^{10 11 12}

Results from the first human study, conducted in China, were released in late 2009 and showed that male factory workers who worked in epoxy resin- and BPA-manufacturing facilities had lower sperm counts and higher rates of impotence and infertility compared to men who were not regularly exposed to the chemical. Some workers experienced these changes within just a few months on the job.¹³

Canned Foods, Just the Tip of the BPA Iceberg

While canned foods are indeed a source of BPA, they are just one among hundreds of sources of exposure. It is important to be aware of all of the sources of BPA, including canned food, but taking into consideration the hundreds of consumer products that contain BPA, it is imperative to look at the big picture and pressure industry to find a safe alternative to this toxic chemical.

Natural Grocers has encouraged all of the manufacturers we work with to find an alternative to BPA. Additionally, we have worked to ensure that our plastic produce bags, our plastic bulk bags and our cash register receipt paper are BPA-free.

Ultimately, consumers will best be served by contacting manufacturers directly with their concerns about BPA. Only when there is enough pressure from consumers will industry practices change.

The FDA and BPA

The FDA had long maintained that BPA was safe, relying largely on two studies funded by the chemical industry.¹⁴ But the agency was called out by its own panel of independent science advisers in 2008, which said its position on BPA was scientifically flawed because it ignored more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that raised health concerns about BPA.¹⁵

Since then, numerous studies on the health effects of BPA have come out and the FDA has also been conducting its own investigation. In 2012 and 2013, the FDA food additives regulations were amended to no longer include the use of BPA-based materials in baby bottles, sippy cups and infant formula packaging. This abandonment was not based on safety, but rather on the fact that this regulatory authorization is no longer necessary since manufacturers (largely due to public outcry) have independently removed BPA from these products.¹⁶ However, at this time, the FDA still maintains that "…BPA is safe at the current levels occurring in foods…and continues to support the safety of BPA for the currently approved uses in food containers and packaging."¹⁷

Regardless of the FDA’s stance, many manufacturers have taken steps to remove the BPA from their plastics, and BPA-free water bottles, baby bottles, sippy cups, plastic cups and even canned goods are now available. While this was a step in the right direction, the safety of the materials used to replace BPA is largely unknown. Some manufacturers have turned to plant-based oleoresins while others to chemical cousins of BPA, such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF). In 2011 research started to emerge suggesting that BPS and BPF may share many characteristics with BPA, including endocrine disruptive qualities. ^{18 19 20} Furthermore many different compounds are used in the manufacturing of plastics and may pose health risks alone or in combination with other chemicals.²¹ The bottom line is, there is likely no plastic that is 100% safe in all cases.

Until legislation is passed banning the use of BPA in food and beverage containers, either on a national level or in your state, there are things you can do to lessen your exposure:

• Eat more organic fruit and vegetables—they contain compounds that support the body’s natural detoxification processes, helping the body to get rid of toxic chemicals like BPA.
• Choose naturally-raised meats to further avoid artificial hormones
• When possible, avoid #7 plastics, especially for children’s food, as these typically contain BPA. Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2, and #4 are generally safer choices and do not contain BPA.
• Replace plastic with glass when possible.
• Discard any old baby bottles, infant “sippy” cups and any food containers that are scratched, as this may lead to greater leaching of BPA.
• If you eat canned food, rinse the food before you eat it—this can help reduce levels of BPA. Or look for cans with BPA-free liners.
• Never microwave foods in plastic.
• Don’t wash polycarbonate containers in the dishwasher, as high temperatures increase leaching of BPA.
• Follow a natural foods diet—eat more whole, fresh foods and fewer packaged foods.

References Available Upon Request