BPA found in a wide range of food products

Consumer Reports Magazine released a report last week about bisphenol-A that is found in common canned products including soups, tuna and vegetables. The results showed that BPA exists in nearly every canned product, in amounts greater than outdated federal suggested guidelines.

News of the Consumer Reports study moved quickly through the food community, as it affects nearly household. According to the study, "Consumers eating just one serving of the canned vegetable soup we tested would get about double what the FDA now considers typical average dietary daily exposure."

It is possible to change from BPA-tainted containers — Japan did it in 1997 because the government was concerned about the health effects of BPA.

The U.S. federal government has not taken action against BPA yet, and is under extreme industry pressure to continue to allow BPA in the consumer stream. In the meantime, studies such as this one from Consumer Reports continue to make headlines. As Tom Philpott of Grist said:

"While FDA bureaucrats play bump-and-tickle with industry chiefs to form policy on BPA regulations, NGOs have been testing consumer food products and finding significant levels of the damaging substance. The Consumer Union study was only the latest. Back in 2007, Environmental Working Group tested 97 canned products. Over half contained significant levels of BPA."

This is why it is critical that we continue to look to the states for leadership in the BPA ban. Minnesota and Connecticut have already taken the step by banning BPA from certain children’s products.

Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times examines the BPA evidence and decides that he will stay away from it as much as possible.

"While the evidence isn’t conclusive, it justifies precautions. In my family, we're cutting down on the use of those plastic containers that contain BPA to store or microwave food, and I’m drinking water out of a metal bottle now. In my reporting around the world, I've come to terms with the threats from warlords, bandits and tarantulas. But endocrine disrupting chemicals — they give me the willies."

The study recommends the following steps that you can take immediately:

• choose fresh over canned when possible, 
• do not heat food in the packaging it comes in -- instead transfer to a glass container,
• and look for alternatives to cans or plastic packaging.

To protect your family, you can participate with your state and federal government to restrict and label use of harmful chemicals such as BPA. Nationally, you can get active with the Safer Chemicals website and ask Congress to create common sense limits on toxic chemicals.