Tests find BPA in canned food, formula and juice

Photo/GJK

Measurable amounts of Bisphenol A (BPA) have reportedly been found in canned name-brand foods. Many of the findings come from an assortment of canned foods; including those labled "organic" and BPA-free".

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastic containers and the lining of tin food cans. Recently, concerns were raised about BPA findings in plastic baby bottles. In animal studies, BPA has been linked to reproductive abnormalities, an increased risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend consumers to discontinue using products that contain BPA. 

According to the FDA, it continues to evaluate the data of neural and behavioral effects of BPA exposure and continues to review concerns from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Draft Brief published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

The FDA's current recommendations of BPA safety come from past studies. The FDA is expected to release its recent reports early this fall. FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg states that the FDA and its scientists take the recent findings and concerns over BPA very seriously.

Bisphenol-A.org reports that government and industry researchers claim that BPA is generally not detected in beverages and only extremely low levels of BPA have been reportedly been found in canned foods. Bisphenol-A.org's claims BPA findings in canned foods is less than 37 ppb.

Consumer Reports findings:

1. Canned Del Monte Fresh Cut Green Beans -35.9 ppb to 191 ppb
2. Progresso Vegetable Soup -67 ppb to 134 ppb
3. Campbell's Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup 54.5 ppb to 102 ppb

Canned corn, chili, tomato sauce and corned beef varied widely in tests. BPA levels range from trace amounts to 32 ppb.

1. Similac liquid concentrate (canned) averaged 9 ppb. No measurable amounts of BPA were reportedly found in the powdered version.
2. Nestle Juicy Juice (canned) averaged 9.7 ppb. No measurable amounts found in juice boxes.

Low levels of BPA of 3 ppb and less were found in plastic packaging of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup and StarKist Chunk Light canned tuna. Bird's Eye Steam Fresh Cut Green Beans in the frozen plastic bag was found to contain BPA levels of about 1 ppb or less.

Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli in Tomato and Meat Sauce tested at higher levels in alternative packaging compared to its canned versions. The plastic container with the peel-off lid had 1.5 times higher levels of BPA compared to the same brand of food in metal cans.

Vital Choice's Tuna in "BPA-free cans tested at an average of 20 ppb and Eden Baked Beans marked in "BPA-free" cans averaged 1 ppb.

This concerns Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Technical Policy, at Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, "considering how many servings of juice young children may consume daily, a child still could exceed a level that Consumers Union thinks would provide an adequate margin of safety."

While it may be impossible to eliminate complete exposure from BPA, consumers can take active steps in reducing their exposure to BPA by choosing fresh food, selecting alternatives to canned food, beverages, juices and infant formula and using glass containers whenever possible.

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