Companies reduced BPA exposures in Japan

Food manufacturers in other countries appear to be taking voluntary measures to reduce BPA contamination in food. US manufacturers should do the same without waiting for the government to set stronger safety standards for this toxic chemical.

Japanese scientists, government and industry have all taken a notable interest in BPA exposure and reduction strategies. Due to consumer concern about the toxic effects of BPA, Japanese industries voluntarily reduced the use of BPA dramatically between 1998 and 2003, from 430,000 tons to 100 tons.

In 1998 BPA concentrations ranging from 0.6-1 ug/L were detected in 12 of 20 canned drinks in Japan. According to the Japanese government, voluntary efforts by can manufactures reduced the migration level a goal of <5 ug/l. To do so they changed the inner surface of the cans from EXR coating to PET film lamination, or they used a EXR paint with much less BPA migration into food. Due to these BPA reduction and inactivation measures, the assessors noted that virtually no BPA is detected in canned foods and beverages now (cite). Also in Japan, polycarbonate tableware in school lunches were largely replaced with the safer alternatives of polypropylene or melamine, ABS resin, polyethylene naphthalate and stainless steel (RCCRM 2005).

Japanese efforts to reduce human exposure to BPA appear to have paid off with diminished BPA exposure. Japanese risk assessors estimate that the reduced intake of BPA from the cans and tableware changes was 0.3 to 0.5 ug/kg/day per child. But people consuming the most drinks would have an estimated reduction of 0.6 ug/kg/d from drinks alone (Junko Nakanishi 2005).

A group of researchers studying BPA exposure for college students noted a greater than 50 percent decline in BPA measurements in groups of college students examined before and after canned foods and tableware were redesigned. Before the intervention, BPA detections in blood were strongly correlated with the frequency that students drank warm beverages, namely coffee and tea which are commonly contained in cans in Japan. After the redesigned cans were introduced, the frequency of consuming canned drinks had no relationship to BPA measurements, which is what one would expect if BPA levels had been reduced (Matsumoto A 2003).

According to the United Kingdom Food Standards Agenc,y the food industry in the U.K. may also be taking voluntary steps to minimize BPA leaching from cans: "Industry is taking action to reduce levels of bisphenol A in canned food to as low as possible and is investigating alternatives to this substance" (UKFSA 2001).

Since alternatives to BPA appear to be both available and feasible, U.S. manufacturers should take action now to reduce their customer's exposures to this toxic chemical.

Methods of analysis

Laboratory method

Samples were tested at the North Carolina-based Southern Testing and Research Division of Microbac Laboratories, Inc. As a member of the nationwide Microbac laboratory group, Southern Testing & Research Laboratories is full service laboratory offering a wide range of chemical and microbiological testing and research services for the environmental, food/feed, pharmaceutical, agrochemical and industrial hygiene industries.

The lab analyzed samples via liquid chromatography and x-ray fluorescence to analyze BPA concentrations. The method is described in Sensitive and Rapid Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography-Fluorescence Method For Determining Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether in Aqueous-Based Food Simulates. J. Assoc. of Analytical Chemistry (Vol. 74, No. 6, 1991) The lab modified the LC parameters according to Agilent Technologies application note.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Six matrices were spiked with Bisphenol A during the run and showed reasonable recovery. Further quality assurance was accomplished by taking three split samples from five canned foods. The results show reasonable concordance between the three samples for all foods. The standard deviation for all 15 samples ranged from 3 to 8 ppb (chicken soup: 79 +/- 4 ppb, green beans: 99 +/- 8 ppb, mixed vegetables: 167 +/- 3 ppb, ravioli: 66 +/- 4 ppb, tuna: 26 +/- 5 ppb).

View all charts

BPA's toxic effects in lab animals are on the rise and common in people

EWG's tests show that canned foods are a significant fraction of people's total BPA exposure

People's BPA exposures overlap with doses shown to harm laboratory animals

BPA is at unsafe levels in one of every 10 servings of canned foods (11%) and one of every 3 cans of infant formula (33%)

CDC data show that people are routinely exposed to unsafe levels of BPA

Many women who eat canned food are exposed to unsafe levels of BPA

30 ug/kg/d

10 ug/kg/d

2.4 ug/kg/d

2.0 ug/kg/d

0.025 ug/kg/d

View all tables 

EWG test results -- BPA is common contaminant in name-brand canned foods heavily consumed by women and infants Canned Foods Number of brands tested Number of cans tested Foods tested BPA % detect Average BPA level* and range (ppb) All foods 30 97   57% 7.9 (ND - 385) Beans 3 6 baked beans 83% 9.7 (ND - 38) Fruit 6 17 mixed fruit, cranberry sauce, peaches, pears, pineapple 35% 2.3 (ND - 27) Infant formula 2 6 concentrated infant soy and milk-based formula 33% 2.4 (ND - 17) Meal replacement 2 5 liquid meal replacements 40% 4.2 (ND - 66) Milk products   3 evaporated milk 66% 3.5 (ND - 9) Pasta 2 6 ravioli, spaghetti 100% 63.5 (16 - 247) Soda 2 12 cola, diet cola 42% 1.7 (ND - 8) Soup 5 19 beef stew, chicken noodle, chicken rice, chicken vegetable, tomato, vegetable 89% 57.6 (ND - 385) Tuna 2 6 chunk lite, solid white 50% 9.6 (ND - 108) Vegetable 8 17 corn, green beans, mixed vegetables, peas, tomatoes 41% 7.8 (ND - 330) BPA concentrations are expressed in parts per billion (ppb) by weight (micrograms of BPA per kilogram of food). * Average is the geometric mean. Non-detects considered to be 1/2 the detection limit (1 ppb) for purposes of this calculation.

BPA levels in individual cans -- from EWG's test program of 97 cans of 30 name-brand foods Type of canned food Specific food type State of purchase Bisphenol A (ppb)# Serving size (oz) + Average BPA exposure from single serving (ug/kg-d)* Beans baked beans GA <2 4.1 ND Beans baked beans GA 37.7 4.6 0.08 Beans baked beans CA 27.1 4.7 0.06 Beans baked beans CT 27 4.0 0.05 Beans baked beans CT 6.34 4.1 0.01 Beans baked beans CA 4.83 4.1 0.01 Fruit cranberry sauce CA <2 2.7 ND Fruit cranberry sauce CT <2 2.7 ND Fruit cranberry sauce GA <2 2.7 ND Fruit mixed fruit CA <2 4.3 ND Fruit mixed fruit CA <2 4.1 ND Fruit mixed fruit CT <2 4.1 ND Fruit mixed fruit GA <2 4.3 ND Fruit mixed fruit GA <2 4.4 ND Fruit mixed fruit CT 10.6 4.4 0.02 Fruit peaches GA <2 4.4 ND Fruit peaches CT 7.43 4.2 0.01 Fruit pears CT <2 4.4 ND Fruit pears CA 15.6 4.4 0.03 Fruit pears GA 14 4.3 0.03 Fruit pineapple GA <2 4.4 ND Fruit pineapple CT 26.9 4.4 0.06 Fruit pineapple CA 2.2 4.0 0.00 Infant formula milk formula with iron CT <2 30.0 ND Infant formula milk formula with iron GA <2 30.0 ND Infant formula milk formula with iron CA 17.1 30.0 1.20 Infant formula milk formula with iron GA 10.9 30.0 0.76 Infant formula soy formula with iron CA <2 30.0 ND Infant formula soy formula with iron CT <2 30.0 ND Meal replacement chocolate shake CA <2 11.0 ND Meal replacement chocolate shake CA <2 11.0 ND Meal replacement chocolate shake CT <2 11.0 ND Meal replacement chocolate shake GA 65.5 11.0 0.34 Meal replacement vanilla shake GA 19.3 11.0 0.10 Other evaporated milk CT <2 1.0 ND Other evaporated milk GA 9 1.0 0.00 Other evaporated milk CA 4.83 1.0 0.00 Pasta ravioli CA 247 7.5 0.87 Pasta ravioli GA 220 7.5 0.78 Pasta ravioli CT 16.2 7.5 0.06 Pasta spaghetti CA 52.9 7.5 0.19 Pasta spaghetti GA 38.1 7.5 0.13 Pasta spaghetti CT 37.1 7.4 0.13 Soda cola CA <2 12.5 ND Soda cola CT <2 8.4 ND Soda cola CT <2 8.4 ND Soda cola CA 4.19 12.5 0.02 Soda cola GA 3.35 12.5 0.02 Soda cola GA 2.41 8.4 0.01 Soda diet cola CA <2 12.5 ND Soda diet cola CT <2 8.4 ND Soda diet cola CT <2 8.4 ND Soda diet cola GA <2 8.4 ND Soda diet cola CA 8.21 12.5 0.05 Soda diet cola GA 2.74 12.5 0.02 Soup beef stew CT 26.9 9.4 0.12 Soup beef stew CA 19 9.4 0.08 Soup chicken broth CT 8.64 7.0 0.03 Soup chicken noodle soup GA <2 4.3 ND Soup chicken noodle soup CT 385 7.2 1.32 Soup chicken noodle soup CT 184 4.2 0.37 Soup chicken noodle soup CA 83.3 4.3 0.17 Soup chicken rice soup GA 121 4.2 0.24 Soup chicken rice soup CT 104.4 4.2 0.21 Soup chicken rice soup CA 103 4.2 0.20 Soup chicken vegetable soup CA 122 9.5 0.55 Soup chicken vegetable soup CT 49.1 9.5 0.22 Soup noodle soup CA 191 4.4 0.40 Soup noodle soup GA 99.3 4.2 0.20 Soup other soup CT <15 7.1 ND Soup tomato soup CA 176 4.3 0.36 Soup tomato soup CT 88.5 4.3 0.18 Soup tomato soup GA 78.2 4.3 0.16 Soup vegetable soup CA 79.6 9.2 0.35 Tuna chunk lite CA <2 2.4 ND Tuna chunk lite CT 108 2.4 0.12 Tuna chunk lite CA 89.8 2.4 0.10 Tuna chunk lite GA 80 2.4 0.09 Tuna chunk white GA <2 2.4 ND Tuna solid white CT <2 2.4 ND Vegetable corn CT <2 4.4 ND Vegetable corn GA <2 2.7 ND Vegetable green beans CA <2 4.1 ND Vegetable green beans GA 284 4.1 0.56 Vegetable green beans CT 209 4.1 0.41 Vegetable mixed vegetables CA <2 4.1 ND Vegetable mixed vegetables CT <2 4.1 ND Vegetable mixed vegetables CT <2 4.3 ND Vegetable mixed vegetables GA <15 4.3 ND Vegetable mixed vegetables GA 330 4.1 0.65 Vegetable mixed vegetables CA 225 4.3 0.46 Vegetable peas CT <2 4.3 ND Vegetable peas CA 203.5 4.3 0.41 Vegetable peas GA 22.7 4.3 0.05 Vegetable tomatoes CA <2 2.2 ND Vegetable tomatoes CT <2 4.1 ND Vegetable tomatoes GA 8.94 2.2 0.01 Source: Chemical analyses of 97 canned foods by Southern Testing and Research Division of Microbac Laboratories, Inc., North Carolina. # BPA concentrations are expressed in parts per billion (ppb) by weight (micrograms of BPA per kilogram of food) + Serving size as noted on can label. * BPA exposure is expressed in ug/kg-d, or micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight per day. For comparison, numerous animal studies show toxic effects at 2 ug/kg/d and lower. EWG estimated the BPA dose from single serving of food using the following assumptions: BPA calculations reflect a single adult serving, using label serving size and body weight of 60 kg (132 lbs); exposures for concentrated infant formula is calculated for exclusively formula-fed infant using average 3-month-old body weight (6 kg/13 lbs) and average daily formula ingestion (840 g/30 oz); formula is assumed diluted with water free of BPA

Summary of BPA measurements in canned food from 9 previous studies Food type Number of studies Location Total number of cans tested Percent of cans with BPA detected BPA range, ppb (ug/kg) EWG study: BPA range, ppb (ug/kg) Ref- erences Beverages 1 Austria 7 0% <0.9 - 3.4 2.4 - 8.2 [2] Canned meat+ 3 New Zealand, UK 10 ~75% 8.6 - 89 NA [5, 6, 9] Fruit 2 Austria, UK 6 >80% 5 - 38 2.2 - 27 [2, 5] Fruit & vegetables 1 New Zealand 38 unavailable <20 - 24 NA [9] Infant food 2 New Zealand, UK 10 30% <10 - 77 NA [5, 9] Infant formula 3 US, UK, Taiwan 24 80% <0.002 - 113 10.9 - 17.1 [1, 5, 7] Pasta 3 New Zealand, UK 10 >50% <7 - 130 16.2 - 247 [5, 6, 9] Soup 3 New Zealand, UK 15 unavailable <2 - 39 8.6 - 385 [5, 6, 9] Tuna 4 New Zealand, UK, Mexico, Austria 16 75% <7 - 109 80 - 108 [5, 8, 9, 10] Vegetables 5 Austria, UK, Spain, US 34 >80% 4 - 76 8.9 - 330 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6] + Does not include tuna References U.S.: [1] Biles, J. E., McNeal, T. P. and Begley, T. H. Determination of bisphenol A migrating from epoxy can coatings to infant formula liquid concentrates. J Agric Food Chem 1997; 45: 4697-4700. Austria: [2] Braunrath, R., Podlipna, D., Padlesak, S. and Cichna-Markl, M. Determination of bisphenol A in canned foods by immunoaffinity chromatography, HPLC, and fluorescence detection. J Agric Food Chem 2005; 53: 8911-7. Spain: [3] Brotons, J. A., Olea-Serrano, M. F., Villalobos, M., Pedraza, V. and Olea, N. Xenoestrogens released from lacquer coatings in food cans. Environ Health Perspect 1995; 103: 608-12. U.S.: [4] FDA. Cumulative Exposure Estimated for Bisphenol A (BPA), Individually for Adults and Infants from Its Use in Epoxy-Based Can Coatings and Polycarbonate (PC) Articles, verbal request of 10-23-95, memorandum to G. Diachenki, Ph.D, Division of Product Manufacture and Use, HGS-245, from Allan B. Bailey, Ph.D., Chemistry Review Branch, HFS-245. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration. Food and Drug Administration; 1996. U.K.: [5] Goodson, A., Robin, H., Summerfield, W. and Cooper, I. Migration of bisphenol A from can coatings--effects of damage, storage conditions and heating. Food Addit Contam 2004; 21: 1015-26. U.K.: [6] Goodson, A., Summerfield, W. and Cooper, I. Survey of bisphenol A and bisphenol F in canned foods. Food Addit Contam 2002; 19: 796-802. Taiwan: [7] Kuo, H.-W. and Ding, W.-H. Trace determination of bisphenol A and phytoestrogens in infant formula powders by gas chromatography-mass spectometry. J Chromatogr A 2004; 1027: 67-74. Mexico: [8] Munguía-López , E. M., Gerardo-Lugo, S., Peralta, E., Bolumen, S. and Soto-Valdez, H. Migration of bisphenol A (BPA) from can coatings into a fatty-food simulant and tuna fish. Food Addit Contam 2005; 22: 892-8 New Zealand: [9] Thomson, B. M. and Grounds, P. R. Bisphenol A in canned foods in New Zealand: an exposure assessment. Food Addit Contam 2005; 22: 65-72.

BPA in a single serving of many foods tested would exceed a minimal margin of safety from the low dose effects of oral exposure (2.0 ug/kg-d)+ Food Type Number of cans tested Percent of cans with single-serving dose within margin of 5 from harmful level Percent of cans with single-serving dose within margin of 10 from harmful dose Percent of cans with single-serving dose within margin of 100 from harmful dose High-end daily intake for consumer* (ug/kg-d) Pasta 6 33% 33% 100% 0.87 Infant formula# 6 33% 33% 33% 1.20 Vegetable 17 29% 29% 35% 0.65 Soup 19 11% 53% 89% 1.32 Meal replacement 5 0% 20% 40% 0.34 Tuna 6 0% 0% 50% 0.12 Beans 6 0% 0% 50% 0.08 Fruit 17 0% 0% 24% 0.06 Soda 12 0% 0% 17% 0.05 Milk products 3 0% 0% 0% 0.004 All foods 97 11% 21% 46% NA *Calculated for a single serving of the can with the maximum BPA detection for that food type # Serving = average daily intake for 3 month-old infant exclusively formula fed + Nagel et al. 1997

Many studies confirm BPA's low-dose toxicity across a diverse range of toxic effects Daily BPA exposure (ug/kg body weight-day) CERHR conclusion* Toxic effect Study details Reference % cans tested by EWG with single-serving BPA levels within a margin of 10 from harmful dose 0.0001 not included alterations in cell signalling pathways on the cell surface that control calcium eflux in cells in-vitro study which compared activity of BPA and other hormone disruptors Wozniak 2005 56.7 (all cans with detected BPA) 0.025 "very useful" persistent changes to breast tissue, predisposes cells to hormones and carcinogens fetal exposure, osmotic pumps, changes noted a 6 months of age Munoz-de-Toro 2005 55.7 0.025 "useful and shows tissue effects at extremely low dose levels" permanent changes to genital tract fetal exposure, osmotic pumps Markey 2005 55.7 0.2 utility "limited" decrease antioxidant enzymes adult exposure, oral Chitra 2003 47.4 0.25 utility "to be added" altered growth, cell size and lumen formation in mammary epithelium of mouse fetuses. exposure during pregnancy w/osmotic pumps Vandenberg 2007 45.4 2 "useful" increased prostate weight 30% fetal exposure, oral route Nagel 1997 20.6 2 "moderately useful" increased aggression at 8 weeks of life fetal exposure, oral route Kawai 2003 20.6 2.4 "useful", but non-traditional endpoint Decreased time from vaginal opening to first estrus, possibly earlier puberty fetal exposure, oral route Howdeshell 1999 17.5 2.4 "useful" lower bodyweight, increase of anogenital distance in both genders, signs of early puberty and longer estrus. fetal exposure, oral route Honma 2002 17.5 2.4 "adequate" decline in testicular testosterone fetal and neonatal exposure, gavage Akingbemi 2004 17.5 2.5 utility "to be added" breast cells predisposed to cancer fetal exposure, osmotic pumps Murray 2006 16.5 2.5 not included immune system impacts oral exposure Sawai 2003 16.5 10 utility "very useful" prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer infant oral exposure, 3 day duration Ho 2006 2.1 10 utility "very useful" prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer fetal exposure, oral route, short duration Timms 2005 2.1 10 not included insulin resistance develops in 2 days, chronic hyperinsulinemia at day 4 subcutaneous injection, short duration exposure Alonso-Magdalena 2006 2.1 10 "very useful" decreased maternal behaviors fetal and neonatal exposure, oral route Palanza 2002 2.1 20 not included damage to eggs and chromosomes fetal exposure, osmotic pumps Hunt 2003 0 20 not included damage to eggs fetal exposure, osmotic pumps Susiajro 2007 0 20 not included brain effects - disrupted neocortical development by accelerating neuronal differentiation and migration single injection Nakamura 2006 0 30 "...adequate for the evaluation process and gives cause for concern" reversed the normal sex differences in brain structure and behavior oral during gestation and lactation Kubo 2001 0 30 "suitable" hyperactivity oral Ishido 2004 0 50   EPA RfD EPA's 'safe exposure level, based on outdated, high dose studies and a 1000-fold margin of safety EPA 1998 0 *CERHR conclusion refers to the Center for Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction expert panel assessment of the utility of the study in the panel's review of BPA risks to human reproduction (CERHR 2006). Statistics on percent cans with single servings that would yield human dose within a margin of 10 of the toxic dose are generated with the following assumptions: BPA calculations reflect a single adult serving, using label serving size and body weight of 60 kg (132 lbs); exposures for concentrated infant formula is calculated for exclusively formula-fed infant using average 3-month-old body weight (6 kg/13 lbs) and average daily formula ingestion (840 g/30 oz); formula is assumed diluted with water free of BPA.

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Chemical Linked to Birth Defects Found in Canned Food

In the most comprehensive U.S. tests for an industrial chemical used to line cans of foods, an independent laboratory found a compound linked to birth defects in more than half of the samples of canned fruit, vegetables, soda, and baby formula from supermarket shelves, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) report released today.

Conflict of Interest A federal agency that evaluates the causes of birth defects and other reproductive problems is run by a consulting firm with ties to companies that make chemicals the agency is charged with reviewing, an EWG investigation found. Chairs of House and Senate Committees investigate. Read more.

The lab tests conducted for EWG found bisphenol A, or BPA, in 55 of 97 cans of food purchased from major supermarket chains in California, Connecticut and Georgia. The lab tested 27 national name brands and three store brands.

The potential for BPA to cause birth defects and reproductive harm is being evaluated today by a federal advisory panel at the Center for Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), a division of the National Institutes of Health. Major concerns have been raised regarding the integrity of CERHR science and conflicts of interest on the part of a Center contractor, Sciences International (SI). SI plays a major management role in CERHR operations while at the same time doing business with a client base that includes manufacturers of chemicals under review by the Center, including BPA.

BPA is an ingredient in plastics and the epoxy resins that line food cans. Low doses of BPA lead to a range of health problems, including birth defects of the male and female reproductive systems in laboratory animals. Despite the growing evidence of risk to human health, there are no limits on the amount of BPA allowed in canned food.

The tests found that pregnant women and infants who eat even a single serving of some canned foods are exposed to unsafe doses of BPA. Of the foods tested--which included many of the canned foods eaten most often by women of childbearing age--BPA levels were highest in canned pasta and soup. Canned infant formula also had high levels. Just one to three servings of food with these BPA levels could expose a pregnant woman or infant to harmful doses of the chemical.

"BPA reads like a case study of how badly our chemical safety system is broken," said Jane Houlihan, vice president for research at EWG. "We've known it's toxic for 75 years, it's polluting the bodies of almost all Americans, but we allow it in our food at levels that leave no margin of safety for pregnant women and young children."

Scientists have detected BPA in breast milk, serum, saliva, urine, amniotic fluid, and cord blood from at least 2,200 people in Europe, North America, and Asia. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently detected BPA in 95% of nearly 400 U.S. adults and children.

The last comprehensive review of low dose studies found that the overwhelming majority of peer-reviewed studies--94 of 115--of have confirmed BPA's toxicity at low levels of exposure. Few chemicals have been found to consistently display such a diverse range of harm at such low doses.

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The Environmental Working Group and Environmental Working Group Action Fund are nonprofits that use the power of information to protect public health and the environment.

Consumer tips to avoid BPA exposure

Although completely eliminating exposure to BPA may not be possible, there are steps you can take to reduce your family's exposure to this chemical.

Studies show canned foods are a predominant source of daily BPA exposure in our lives. Food and drink cans are lined with a BPA-containing plastic. Beverages appear to contain less BPA residues, while canned pasta and soups contain the highest levels. EWG found that the worst foods tested put pregnant women and formula-fed infants within an unacceptable margin of safety to levels that cause harmful effects in laboratory animals. Typical exposures are within a 10 to 100-fold range of the effects that cause harm in a laboratory setting. More typical 'safe levels' are 1000 to 3000 times lower than toxic doses to animals.

Liquid infant formula: Two of five concentrated (liquid) infant formulas tested had detectable levels of BPA. Due to the special vulnerabilities of children to environmental contaminants, you might consider using powdered formulas if your infant tolerates them. Powdered formulas have not been tested for BPA in the US, although there is less likelihood that they are in contact with BPA-containing plastics.

Certain plastics are made from BPA which leaches at low levels into food or liquids. Leaching from plastics appears to happen at a much lower level than found in canned foods. Nevertheless it is good to take simple precautions.

Polycarbonate plastics: BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic food containers often marked on the bottom with the recycling label #7. Not all #7 labeled products are polycarbonate but this is a reasonable guideline for a category of plastics to avoid. Rigid and transparent plastic containers for food and drink, such as widely used clear Nalgene bottles and toddler sip cups contain BPA. Some polycarbonate water bottles are marketed as 'non-leaching' for minimizing plastic taste or odor, however there is still a possibility that trace amounts of BPA will migrate from these containers, particularly if heated or otherwise abraded or abused.

Safer products and uses: When possible it is best to avoid #7 plastics, especially for children's use. Try looking for alternatives to BPA products such as those listed in the text box below from the Institute For Agriculture Trade and Food Policy (IATP 2006). Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are safer choices and do not contain BPA. Find baby bottles in glass versions, or those made from the safer plastics polypropylene and polyethylene. Pliable milk colored plastic does not contain BPA. Bottles used to pump and store expressed breast milk by the brand Medela are also labeled BPA-free.

Many metal water bottles are lined with a plastic coating that contains BPA. Look for stainless steel bottles, such as those sold by Real Wear and Kleen Kanteen that do not have a plastic liner.

While the levels of BPA that leach from hard plastics is generally low, we recommend avoiding use of plastic containers to heat food in microwaves. Ceramic, glass, and other microwaveable dishware are good alternatives. Avoid using old and scratched plastic bottles.

Some plastic wraps contain BPA, though some brands such as Saran promise to be BPA free.

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