Toxic BPA Found in Canned Food Packaging in Canada, US

First Posted: Apr 04, 2016 04:30 AM EDT
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A coalition of health and ecological support groups tried 192 cans randomly from numerous retailers in Canada and over 19 American states and found that almost 70 percent contained the Bisphenol-A (BPA).

BPA is an industrial chemical and a toxic additive that is used to coat the inside of water supply lines, food cans and bottle tops. The chemical can also be found on certain dental products like composites and sealants.

BPA was found in Campbell's cans, 70 percent of Del Monte items, half of Progresso and Green Giant cans and a large portion of the private-label cans sold by Kroger, Albertsons, Trader Joe's, Walmart and Target according to Safer Chemicals.

Studies have connected BPA in polycarbonate plastics to endocrine disruptions in fetuses and prompting sexual and reproductive development issues. Scientists have attached BPA's hormonal effects to danger for breast and prostate diseases, infertility, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and asthma.

The U.S Food and Drug Administration said that BPA found in food containers is still safe. In any case, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention found minute levels of BPA in 93 percent of individuals who were tested, which led to public health advocates to note that cumulative exposure is still putting comsumers in danger, according to Take Part.

Those tests found not-so-safe choices in 25 percent of cans like polyvinyl chloride plastic and styrene, said Mike Schade of the nonprofit group Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and a co-author of the report. Schade brought up that acrylic lining contains styrene and mentioned option linings require further study to figure out if they are safe for use with food.

Some of the companies have found ways to remove BPA from their packaging like Kroger that reported efforts in 2011 to dispose BPA in canned products and Campbell Soup Company that made comparable declarations in 2012. 

Consumers planning to avoid BPA seem to have few choices. Broadly accessible general store brands like Amy's Kitchen, Annie's Homegrown, ConAgra and Hain Celestial Group have changed to more secure options. Among store brands, Albertsons, Kroger and Whole Foods have embraced approaches to lessen BPA in their private-label canned foods. Aldi, Target and Walmart don't yet have such arrangements, the report expressed.

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