BPA in the Can

After consumers started avoiding polycarbonate plastic bottles because the plastic leaches a hormone-disrupting chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA), manufacturers started switching to other types of plastic. But polycarbonate plastic bottles and food containers are just one potential source of the BPA in our bodies.

BPA is also used in the epoxy resin that lines the inside of metal food and soda cans -- even infant formula.

Most people are probably exposed to more BPA from eating canned food or drinking canned soda than from drinking out of a polycarbonate bottle. BPA leaches out of the can liner into the food or drink, especially when the food is acidic such as tomato-based products or sodas.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hormone-disrupting chemical that has been associated with reproductive abnormalities and hormonal changes. BPA exposure is particularly a concern for babies, young children and pregnant women. Pregnant women may want to cut back on canned food and canned soda and parents should avoid infant formula in cans.

The FDA and the federal government haven't implemented any protective regulatory framework for hormone-disrupting chemicals such as BPA even though scientists have been concerned about potential health threats since the early 1990s.

To limit your exposure to BPA, avoid canned foods, especially canned acidic foods. Foods like canned tomatoes and canned soda absorb more BPA. Look for tomato products in cardboard "brick" containers or glass jars. And rather than buying canned vegetables, try frozen vegetables.

simple steps

If you're pregnant, limit your consumption of canned food and soda. Parents shouldn't buy canned infant formula.
Download NRDC's fact sheet on bisphenol A (BPA) to learn more.
Avoid buying acidic food, like soda or tomatoes, in cans. Look for cardboard "bricks" or glass containers to avoid the hormone-disrupting chemical BPA.

Users' Comments

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By: B () on 20-06-2008 13:53

By: B on 20-06-2008 13:53

What's an inexpensive solution to canned tomato sauce? I make a lot of pasta and am unwilling to spend 10 times more on an alternative when I can get a can or two of quality tomato sauce for under a dollar.

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By: E () on 20-06-2008 14:33

By: E on 20-06-2008 14:33

I can't name a brand which comes in a jar that is as inexpensive as the canned varieties, but depending on where you live and if you have access to farmer's markets during your tomato season, "canning" your own (in glass jars) is a great alternative. Last year a co-worker of mine was literally giving tomatoes away from her home garden because she'd had her fill of them. Making a simple sauce was a snap and very economical. (You can always add other veggies and additional spices later to create different varieties.)

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By: NRDC Staff) on 20-06-2008 15:17

By: NRDC Staff on 20-06-2008 15:17

I can only speak from personal experience but my local Associated supermarket there seem to be more and more packaged tomatoes in those cardboard brick containers. And they aren't specialty or organic tomatoes, they're regular national brands.

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By: Jo () on 23-06-2008 13:26

By: Jo on 23-06-2008 13:26

I've seen Bionatura tomato sauce and strained tomatoes in glass jars - but it is relatively tasteless and a little more expensive. What brands are the boxes? I think I've seen them at Whole Foods, but not at our local Giant grocery store. What are the chemical profiles on those aseptic boxes? I haven't seen anything on those - I assume they must also be lined with some sort of plasticized coating . . .

Has anyone seen other brands of tomatoes in glass other than Bionatura? Also, if freezing tomatoes - what containers should they be put in to minimize this plastic leaching risk. Argh. We eat a ton of canned tomatoes and beans. Buying cardboard hothouse tomatoes in December doesn't seem very appealing . . .

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By: Sandra () on 10-07-2008 13:17

By: Sandra on 10-07-2008 13:17

To avoid using so much plastic, I have switched to metal water bottles such as Sigg and Klean Kanteen. Does anyone know if those are lined with BPA? My bottles are about 3 years old - are newer bottles free of BPA?

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By: raded6 () on 10-07-2008 19:26

By: raded6 on 10-07-2008 19:26

MuirGlen organic canned tomatoes have a white ceramic lining rather than BPA. A little bit more expensive, but worth it.

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By: martha () on 05-08-2008 23:06

By: martha on 05-08-2008 23:06

I called the 800 number on the Muir Glen organic food site and asked about the lining. The white enamel lining IS bpa plastic. I have been looking for boxed organic tomato products. Any brand suggestions?

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