Should We Ban the Can Because of Its Lining??
By Shelley Swenson
Family & Consumer Sciences Agent
Wakulla County Extension
Has it been suggested to you through your reading or conversations that you might want to
give up eating canned foods due to the Bisphenol A (BPA) that is contained in the linings?
What is Bisphenol A? Why is there this concern?
Let’s consider some of the facts as they are presently available before you decide to ban the
can. I turned to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) for the research-based information upon which to make informed
suggestions.
What is BPA? BPA stands for Bisphenol A. It is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain hard plastics,
metal-based food and beverage cans, and resins since the 1960s. One type of this plastic is polycarbonate plastic which
is often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles and baby bottles and cups. Epoxy resins
can be used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, baby formula cans, bottle tops and water supply
lines.
What are the concerns? Research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made
with BPA or into your body when you handle products made with it. The possible health effects of BPA may affect the
brain, behavior and prostate glands of fetuses, infants and children. Infants are a potentially sensitive population for
BPA because their neurological and endocrine, elimination and detoxification systems are immature.
In 2008, the FCDA conducted a review of toxicology research and information on BPA, and at that time, judged foodrelated material containing BPA on the market to be safe. But recent studies have reported subtle effects of low doses
of BPA in laboratory animals. While it is not proven to harm children or adults, the newer studies have led federal
health officials to express some concern about the safety of BPA.
What is the Food and Drug Administration’s response? Studies employing standardized toxicity tests have thus far
supported the safety of current low levels of human exposure to BPA. F.D.A representatives feel there still is enough
concern about the possible health effects that they are taking steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply
by finding alternative to BPA in food containers.
The F.D.A. is doing the following things to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply:
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Supporting the industry’s actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and infant feeding cups for the
U.S. market;
Facilitating the development of alternatives to BPA for the linings of infant formula cans; and
supporting efforts to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels in other food can linings; and
Shifting to a more aggressive regulation framework for oversight of BPA.
What should consumers do in the meantime? F.D.A. is supporting recommendations from the Department of Health
and Human Services for infant feeding and food preparation to reduce exposure to BPA. They are not recommending
that families change the use of infant formula or foods, as the benefit of a stable source of good nutrition outweighs the
potential risk from BPA exposure.
They suggest the following:
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Seek out BPA-free products. This is not easy. Some manufacturers label their products as BPA-free. If not
labeled, keep in mind that most aluminum cans or bottles have linings that contain BPA, while steel bottles or
cans don’t. Polycarbonate plastics are generally hard, clear, lightweight plastic. It often has the No. 7 recycling
symbol on the bottle;
It is advised that we should not microwave polycarbonate plastics. The plastics can break down over time,
possible causing BPA to leach into food;
It is suggested that you do not wash polycarbonate plastics in the dishwasher using harsh detergents;
Parents should examine bottles and discard them if worn or scratched because scratches can both harbor germs
and, in BPA-containing bottles, lead to greater release of BPA. For those who want to use baby bottles and
feeding cups not made with BPA, consumers should know that such products are now widely available in the
U.S. market; and
Use alternatives such as glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic
containers.
Given that these are preliminary steps being taken as a precaution, it is important that we don’t expect changes in the
way industry packages food or even the foods we eat that would jeopardize either food safety or reduce eating food
needed to provide good nutrition, particularly for infants.
Please let me know if you would like additional information on this topic or any other that the UF/IFAS has available to
Florida citizens.
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DISCLAIMER: Please remember that UF/IFAS does recommend a TYPE of product that may help you conserve water and
energy; however this is NOT an endorsement for a particular brand.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational
information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color,
religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program and Board of County
Commissioners Cooperating.