BPA Strikes Again

Children and teens with higher levels of BPA (Bisphenol A), a chemical used in canned foods, are more likely to be overweight and obese, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has pointed out last week. The study found that children with the highest levels in their urine were twice as likely to be obese as those with the lowest. Whether the chemical caused the weight gain can’t 100% be answered as it is somewhat of the ‘what came first’ scenario, obesity or BPA? Even though it’s not conclusive, it’s still very interesting. This is the first association for a mainstream environmental chemical exposure with childhood obesity.

BPA has been around for years. Health Canada states, it is widely used in the making of food containers like milk, water and infant bottles, and in the interior protective lining for food and beverage cans. Some medical experts estimate that as many as 95% of us have some traces of BPA within our bodies.

The last well known study published on BPA was also as just as informative and shocking. It suggested that  BPA is being absorbed by canned food which is then ingested by consumers. Individuals in this study ate a bowl of canned vegetable soup at lunch for five consecutive days. After a two day break, they consumed the same twelve ounce serving of fresh vegetable soup, again for five days in a row. The other half of volunteers did this in the reverse order, i.e. start with five days of fresh soup, followed by five lunches of canned soup. Participants ate the canned soup experienced more than a 1000% increase in urine concentrations of BPA, compared to when they dined on fresh soup.

The American Chemistry Council states “The public should be confident that BPA is one of the most studied chemicals and has a safety track record of fifty years. The FDA and other regulatory bodies from around the world have concluded that the science supports the safety of BPA in its current uses, including its continued use in food-contact products.” It’s something that may have been around for a while, but we are increasingly learning its associations. BPA is thought by many to be linked with abnormal sexual development, brain development for infants and young kids, autism and ADHD. In August, a study from multiple universities in the US suggested an association between exposure to BPA and coronary artery disease. 

There are governmental suggestions for levels which shouldn’t be exceeded when it comes to this chemical, but with growing evidence of potential harm, and at lower levels, the consensus is growing that we shouldn’t have any BPA in substances we ingest. So how to avoid BPA? It may be hard to avoid completely, but you can first of all look for labelling that states a product is BPA free. Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic containers. Most aluminum cans or bottles have linings that contain BPA, while steel bottles or cans do not. Plastics with BPA are generally hard, clear, lightweight plastic. They will have a number seven recycling symbol on the bottom or side. If you do happen to use these in your home, don’t place these plastics in the dishwasher or microwave. Be sure to replace them (preferably with BPA free versions) if there are any scratches or dents, as the BPA can leach out here as well. Last but not least, reduce your use of canned foods since many cans can be lined with BPA. That’s not to say you should never have canned foods, but by choosing more fresh or frozen you’ll likely be consuming lower processed and more wholesome foods, and nix some of that excess sodium too. 

As seen in The Telegram September 24, 2012