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However much we’d all prefer to whip up delectable meals each day using local ingredients and wash them down with fresh water gurgling from a natural brook nearby, sometimes it's easier to grab a can of soup off the shelf, a bottle of water from the fridge, and call it dinner. But that soup can and water bottle are riddled with bisphenol A, a.k.a. BPA. It's the main compound in epoxy resin linings, present in plastics and canned goods, has been found in studies to lead to cancer, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and is especially harmful to babies and children. The FDA, after years of proclaiming BPA's harmlessness, is now on the bandwagon along with fearful consumers and researchers, committing $30 million in federal stimulus funds to investigate the consequences of consuming BPA; it will release a report at the end of next year.
A Reuter's article yesterday cited Hugh Taylor, a Yale researcher, for publishing studies that show BPA fundamentally alters the way DNA functions, removing groups of carbon molecules that normally bond to each strand of DNA, thereby making it impossible for genes to turn on or off. While he asserts the detrimental effects of BPA, especially on children in utero (ingestion of BPA at that stage of development could lead to cancer later on in life), he recognizes that a perfect BPA experiment can't be conducted—we humans already have too much of it in our systems. Nonetheless, experiments on pregnant mice show that BPA ingestion affects sexual development.
Proponents of the chemical say it saves lives by preventing food poisoning and, furthermore, passes right through the human body on a daily basis—it's like you're not ingesting anything. Opponents cite studies like Taylor's and advocate banning plastics and cans made with BPA altogether. Of course, the trouble there is a monetary one—Eden Farms uses BPA-free cans, but they cost 14 percent more than traditional ones. We'll see what the FDA comes up with in 2011.
Until then, avoid that water bottle. And that soup can: In fact, take a look at what you'd miss if you eliminated canned food from your diet. You could probably do without that canned cheeseburger, no?
This is very disturbing to me. I mean there are countless materials that we could be using instead of these toxic lined plastic containers.
We have tried to elliminate as many of the light wieght platic containers in our home only to find out that the harder plastic containers may be even worse for our health. Now soups too? Rediculous!
Seems to me that the watchdogs are only interested in...+READ
This is very disturbing to me. I mean there are countless materials that we could be using instead of these toxic lined plastic containers.
We have tried to elliminate as many of the light wieght platic containers in our home only to find out that the harder plastic containers may be even worse for our health. Now soups too? Rediculous!
Seems to me that the watchdogs are only interested in doing their jobs after the obvious facts have come to the consumers attention.
Why are these companies even allowed to use these chemicals in food production plants, canneries and bottling companies in the first place?
And when are the consumers rights going be enforced? We should never unknowingly be subjected to injesting chemicals by these manufacturers.
To end this comment, I think I'll stick to fresh and raw foods and remember to use hygienic stainless and glass bowls and containers for storing and preparing meals in. And when it comes to meats and poultry, I'll be sticking to free range and cageless beef, buffalo and chicken for the barbecue.-COLLAPSE
Yeah, like mashing sweet potatoes or blending soups and sauces. Plus whatever may get released in the dishwasher. Also, I'm guessing those foods in cans are often hot when they go in. I used to think people were being too extreme by resorting to glass baby bottles. Not anymore.
I'm for standards that prove produts are safe before entering the marketplace, rather than proved unsafe in order to...+READ
Yeah, like mashing sweet potatoes or blending soups and sauces. Plus whatever may get released in the dishwasher. Also, I'm guessing those foods in cans are often hot when they go in. I used to think people were being too extreme by resorting to glass baby bottles. Not anymore.
I'm for standards that prove produts are safe before entering the marketplace, rather than proved unsafe in order to be removed.-COLLAPSE
There's no reason to believe that BPA from plastic containers can leach into food unless it's heated, afaik anyway.
BPA is completely banned in other countries. To eliminate it from my house, I had to throw out over $800 worth of stuff. Baby bottles and breast pump, food storage containers, , small appliances like my food processor (it's in the plastic bowl), etc. Bacically, if it's made of hard clear plastic, it probably has BPA in it. You can check company websites or google to find out. I whipped up...+READ
BPA is completely banned in other countries. To eliminate it from my house, I had to throw out over $800 worth of stuff. Baby bottles and breast pump, food storage containers, , small appliances like my food processor (it's in the plastic bowl), etc. Bacically, if it's made of hard clear plastic, it probably has BPA in it. You can check company websites or google to find out. I whipped up homemade organic baby food in that $#%$##^^ food processor and fed it to my baby!!!! I and many other moms have written companies that make food processors asking for a stainless steel bowl for home use, to no avail. (Pro models have SS bowls available but are very expensive.) Going on three years no with no food processor! Instead, I have a high powered blender, and plan on getting a SS food mill. I saw a study linking BPA to ED. Maybe if these companies hear from enough chowhounders they'll give us some alternatives.-COLLAPSE
uhh most of the containers that you would eat or drink out of don't contain BPA...
No more Tomato Soup or Chicken Soup with Rice made in two minutes? This will be the beginning of a new and more serious life. I'm ready! Thank you Brickman.
Congrats on snagging Ms. B whose posts on atlantic and Huff and elsewhere we follow with great interest and amusement. she knows her stuff and writes like an angel and always gives a nice SMILE to the reader. BTW - what's the skinny on using plastic to microweave stuff even if the bowl or dish says MICROWAVE SAFE. are they lying to us?