By Deborah KotzThu Sep 18, 6:24 PM ET
With yesterday's study linking bisphenol A--a chemical in hard plastics and the
linings of food and beverage cans--to diabetes and heart disease, you may be
wondering what you can do to minimize your exposure. The Environmental Working
Group last year conducted an analysis of BPA in various canned foods and found
the amount varies widely depending on the food. Condensed milk, for instance,
has relatively little BPA, while infant formula has a lot more--about one fifth
the safe dose limit set by the Food and Drug Administration. Of course, the
potential risk also depends on how much you consume. Canned soda has less BPA
per serving than some other foods, but if you're having a six pack a day...
Here are some good rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA.
1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars. Canned tomato sauce is likely to have
higher levels of BPA because the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of
the chemical to leach from the lining of the can. Think beyond plain tomato
sauce to any canned pasta--like ravioli and those fun-looking kids' meals.
2. Consume frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned. In addition
to their BPA-free benefit, fresh and frozen produce usually have more
nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning. Eden Foods does
offer canned beans that are BPA-free.
3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles. Canned soda and juice often
contain some BPA. You don't need to worry, though, about disposable plastic
water bottles. Most don't contain bisphenol A, and those that do are usually
marked on the bottom with a number 7 recycling code.
4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid. A separate
assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas
contain more BPA than powdered brands.
5. Think in terms of moderation. You don't need to avoid all canned foods. Just
consult the chart below and follow a sensible approach, eating less of those
foods that are high in BPA. Click here for the full report on canned foods.