Q. I was alarmed to read that eating canned soup can raise body levels of BPA. If this is true for canned soups, wouldn’t it follow that other canned foods would pose the same problem?
A. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component in clear hard plastics and the linings of cans. Many canned foods contain BPA that leaches into the food from the lining.
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that people who ate canned soup for a week dramatically increased the amount of BPA in their urine (Nov. 23/30, 2011). Because BPA can act like estrogen in the body, this is worrisome.
Another reader commented:
“It’s not just soup but any canned food that may be exposed to BPA. Some companies do not line their cans with BPA. Look online to find the brands that are BPA-free.”
There is another overlooked source of BPA. A different reader warns: “BPA also coats the paper that many store receipts are printed on. It comes off on hands. Consumers should decline receipts, or handle them with care and wash their hands afterwards. Children should never be allowed to handle these receipts.” Research has confirmed that register receipts often contain BPA that can be absorbed through the skin (Environmental Health Perspectives, online Jan. 1, 2012).
