What Is BPA?

BPA is back in the news with a new press release from the Harvard School of Public Health titled: "Consuming Canned Soup Linked to Greatly Elevated Levels of the Chemical BPA."

BPA is an abbreviation for the chemical name Bisphenol A. It is an additive used to harden plastics, especially polycarbonate plastic which has the Number 7 recycling symbol on the bottom. Many companies over the last few years that make food containers have stopped using BPA. However, it apparently is still used as a food can lining for some canned food products.

BPA Risks

A few studies suggest that BPA may cause brain and behavior problems, cancer and heart problems with long term use. All of these studies, however, involved animals rather than humans.

Results of the New Harvard Study

The new study determined the concentration of urinary BPA in people who consumed canned soup versus freshly made soup.

What is unique about this study is that it used human volunteers rather than animals. Urine samples of 75 human volunteers were studied after consuming canned soup and after consuming fresh, never canned, soup.

The results showed that just one serving of canned soup raised urinary concentrations of BPA by 1,221% compared to eating one serving of fresh soup. This large increase in BPA concentrations in the volunteer's urine samples after one serving of canned soup was a surprise to the researchers.

If BPA is a concern, you may want to avoid canned foods until the industry eliminates BPA from can linings completely. Canned foods may save time, but fresh, unprocessed foods are the healthier choice.

Related Links:

WebMD: "The Facts About Bisphenol A"
Mayo Clinic: "What is BPA?"

Charles