BPA is Still in Two-Thirds of Canned Goods

Significant amounts of BPA can be found in the liners of canned goods, plastic and non-stick food containers, plastic wraps, water bottles and cash register receipts.

Even though countless studies have found that BPA mimics estrogen, The American Chemistry Council, which is an industry trade group, has consistently insisted BPA is safe. They have lobbied against and have opposed state and federal legislative proposals to ban BPA.

It is mind boggling that even with mountains of evidence to the contrary, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also claims BPA is safe for use in food packaging. The FDA is in theory, supposed to protect the American public, not the chemical industry's profits!

The FDA has banned the chemical from being used in sippy cups and other baby products due to potential health concerns to infants.

Two-Thirds of Cans Still Contain BPA

Despite industry promises to remove BPA, two-thirds of cans still contain the hormone-mimicking chemical according to a recent report. Among the worst offenders in the report were Campbell's, Del Monte, and General Mills.

The report now urges major food manufacturers to create a comprehensive plan for the removal of BPA from all cans, to be transparent about their timeline for removal and to ensure that replacement chemicals are in fact safe.

Campbell's announced it will "complete a transition to cans which do not use Bisphenol-A (BPA) linings by the middle of 2017." Del Monte also announced it would phase out BPA by the end of this year.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), titled "State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals," issued in 2014, endocrine disrupting chemicals may need to be banned across the board to protect the health of future generations.

An Endocrine Society task force also recently issued a scientific statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), noting that the health effects of hormone-disrupting chemicals are such that everyone needs to take proactive steps to avoid them.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Cost a Fortune in Medical Care

Analysis to assess the economic burden of EDC exposure in the European Union (EU) has produced sobering statistics. One analysis estimates the healthcare costs of exposure to EDCs to be around $209 billion each year.

Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA and Other EDCs

1. Eat mostly fresh whole foods., since processed and packaged foods are a common source of BPA .

2. Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap.

3. Use glass containers if heating food in your microwave, as heat tends to increase the release of chemicals from plastic.

4. Be aware that even "BPA-free" plastics typically leach other endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are just as bad as BPA.

5. Look for products made by companies that are earth-friendly. This applies to everything from food and personal care products to building materials, carpeting, paint, baby items, furniture, mattresses and more.

6. Buy products that come in glass bottles rather than plastic or cans.

7. You may want to use an alternative to PVC pipes for your water supply.

8. Teach your children not to drink water from the garden hose to avoid plastic chemicals.

9. Be careful with cash register receipts. If you use a store regularly, encourage the management to switch to BPA-free receipts.

10. Breastfeed your baby exclusively if possible, for at least the first year to avoid EDC exposure from infant formula packaging and plastic bottles/nipples.

11. If bottle-feeding, use glass baby bottles rather than plastic ones.

12. Choose toys made from natural materials to avoid plastic chemicals like phthalates and BPA/BPS, particularly for items your child may be prone to suck or chew on.

13. Check your home's tap water for contaminants and filter the water if necessary.

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