Super Eco

Photo credit: maphler, SXC

Bad news for those who were relying on choosing BPA-free drinking bottles to insulate them from the ill effects of the toxic chemical: Can that idea. New tests from the non-profit Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) of canned foods, including soups, juice, tuna and green beans, found measurable levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) in almost every food tested. In a shocking twist, the tests showed measurable BPA even in foods labeled “organic” and in “BPA-free” cans.

As regulatory agencies and manufacturers wriggle in the grip of growing public demand for BPA-free products, consumers are grappling with the implication that the BPA problem is more widespread than they had believed.

“The findings are noteworthy because they indicate the extent of potential exposure,” said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, director of technical policy at Consumers Union. “Children eating multiple servings per day of canned foods with BPA levels comparable to the ones we found in some tested products could get a dose of BPA near levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies.”

Adding to the confusion: the CU study found that comparable products packaged in non-metallic containers showed lower levels of BPA in most, but not all cases. For example, although tests of the inside of some "BPA-free" cans confirmed that the liners were not epoxy-based (including no BPA), samples of Vital Choice’s tuna in “BPA-free” cans showed an average of 20 ppb of BPA, while Eden Baked Beans in “BPA-free” cans averaged 1 ppb BPA.

The steps for reducing your potential for BPA exposure are simple:

• Choose fresh foods whenever possible.
• Avoid canned food, drinks and infant formula.
• Don't use plastic containers to heat or re-heat food.