Nearly every pantry contains at least a few canned foods (including mine!). Canned foods are a staple for millions of people: they are inexpensive, convenient, and they last a long time. Many people rely on canned foods to keep them and their families fed.
Unfortunately, canned food consumption is also our primary source of exposure to bisphenol-a, or BPA.
BPA is a well-established endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been detected in more than 90% of people sampled. Our exposure to this chemical is ubiquitous.
Bisphenol chemicals are used to line most food cans, creating a barrier between the food and the metal, which is important to prevent the can from breaking down and potentially allowing bacteria to enter. Most canned foods are heat-packed – meaning the food is hot as it goes into the can. Heat, along with acidity and time can increase the leaching of these chemicals into the food.
One study found that eating canned soup over a 5-day period (admittedly more frequently than most people consume canned soup) resulted in a more than 1000% increase in urinary BPA levels. Another study found that eating 1 canned food item, vs none, was associated with 24% higher urinary BPA concentrations.
BPA has been linked to numerous chronic health issues, from behavioral problems in children to hormone disruption to metabolic disease.
While canned food isn’t our only exposure, it is our primary one, so working towards minimizing exposure may be helpful.
The good news is that BPA is metabolized and excreted (meaning, we pee it out) very quickly – in as short as a few hours. This means that if we actively lower the amount coming in, we can very quickly lower the levels in the body!
Aim for fresh, frozen, jarred, or dried!
References:
PMID: 25645382
PMID: 34132197
PMID: 22110104