Study: Measurable BPA found in many food products

A recent study by Consumer Reports found that many food products, including canned soups, juice, tuna, packaged organic foods and items labeled “BPA-free,” contained measurable levels of Bisphenol A.

The results of the test, reported in the December issue of the magazine, will also be announced by the Food and Drug Administration, which is currently reassessing the safety of the chemical.

The chemical is a strengthening agent that allows plastic to keep its clarity. In addition to baby products, BPA is often found in water bottles, jars and cans.

But many lawmakers, consumer groups and plaintiffs in a number of lawsuits have cited studies by medical journals suggesting a link between BPA exposure and a wide range of health problems including cancer, diabetes, hyperactivity, miscarriage and heart disease in animals and humans.

After initially finding that the chemical was safe at the levels found in most containers, including baby bottles and sippy cups, the FDA announced in June that it would revisit that conclusion after lawmakers urged the agency to do so. The new report is part of the data that the agency will assess.

The report shows that BPA was found in almost all of 19 name-brand products tested. The survey tested a diverse assortment of canned foods including those labeled “organic” and “BPA-free.” Tests of a few comparable products in alternative types of packaging showed lower levels of BPA in most - but not all - cases, the report states.

“The findings are noteworthy because they indicate the extent of potential exposure,” said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Technical Policy at Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, in a statement announcing the results. “Children eating multiple servings per day of canned foods with BPA levels comparable to the ones we found in some tested products could get a dose of BPA near levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies.”