You Ask, Patch Answers: Are Whole Foods' Receipts BPA Free?

“You Ask ... Patch Answers,” is our Sunday feature where we strive to find answers to all your questions—big, small and in-between—about the town we live and work in.

Whether it’s something you’ve always wondered about, some information you just can’t put your hands on or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it.

Send your queries to sheila.sanchez@patch.com or leave them in the comments section below, and I will do my best to dig up an answer for you. You also can call me at 408-391-8725.

Los Gatos Patch reader Katrina Cabral asked the following question in an email to this editor Jan. 6. We apologize for the late response to the question. Whole Foods finally emailed us an answer on Feb. 26. 

Question: "Whole Foods says that their receipts are BPA free. However, when I first asked them they said they are the kind 'with BPA.' Now they say that they have switched to the BPA free kind but the receipts still look and feel like the original ones. I'm wondering if there is a way to confirm if they really are BPA free or if they are just 'telling' us they are."

Answer: Whole Foods Market spokeswoman Julie Campbell said Whole Foods does not use register tapes in any U.S. stores that are made with Bisphenol A (BPA).

"Our goal is to avoid BPA where functional alternatives exist, and we are carefully reviewing the printer papers used in our stores on a variety of criteria. We are also working closely with the EPA’s Alternatives in Thermal Paper Partnership, a group of retailers, manufacturers and technical experts that was recently convened to advance alternatives to BPA-containing receipt tape," she said.

Campbell said for more information about Whole Foods' stance on BPA and the steps it's taken, see: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/bisphenol-a.php

Campbell suggested readers contact public relations at its global headquarters at 512-477-4455 for additional information, or use Whole Foods' online response form.