By: Tony Flood Date: 11/3/09
Yes we can. In fact, Bisphenol A or BPA is found in a number of household items such as cell phones, computers, household appliances, and flooring. BPA is also used in the manufacture of plastic water bottles, infant bottles, tableware, and reusable containers for food and beverage and as a component of epoxy-resins found in the inner lining of canned goods. BPA-containing plastics are used because they are heat resistant and durable.
In canned goods, the lining protects the metal from corrosion and helps prevent the introduction of potentially harmful contaminants as the product travels from the manufacturer to your kitchen cupboard. Contrary to the recent
Consumer Reports study on BPA in canned goods, we need the protection these types of packaging provide especially in today’s global food supply. According to
STATS, the study is inconsistent
with what is known about the science. A debate is ongoing about the safety of BPA in food packaging. You may have heard a number of conflicting reports on its safety and be wondering what the risks are to you and your family.
Here’s what we know:
- All chemicals that come into contact with our foods must undergo extensive testing to prove its safety in humans and receive approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it can used.
- Based on a large body of available evidence the FDA says “that currently-marketed food contact materials containing BPA are safe, and that exposure to BPA from food contact materials, including exposures for infants and children, are below the levels that may cause health effects.”
- BPA is approved for use in food contact surfaces by numerous countries including Europe and Japan.
- The FDA continues to monitor and evaluate the safety of BPA and will release a scientific update later this month. Until any changes are set forth, the FDA ‘is not recommending that anyone discontinue using products that contain BPA.”