BPA in cans and store receipts: brands that do/don’t

By Catherine Haug, June 4, 2015

It’s been a few years since we first learned of the toxicity of bisphenol-A (BPA), a petroleum-based chemical used to make the epoxy resin linings of cans used for canned foods. “BPA is a synthetic estrogen that scientists have linked to breast cancer, reproductive damage, developmental problems, heart disease and other illnesses.” (4)

By now all food brands should have dropped this chemical, but sadly, most have not (see lists below).

If you are interested, EWG has a consumer petition to the 75+ major food brands that use BPA-lined cans (some are Organic brands), that you can sign (2), requesting:

As a concerned consumer and a supporter of EWG, I demand that you remove BPA from the cans of foods I eat. Your competitors are stepping up. Now it’s time you do too.

Did you know that many store receipts are coated with BPA that could transfer to and through your skin? (3)

See also my related posts:

Grocery receipts coated with BPA

Besides being used for food can linings, many grocery receipts are coated with BPA or BPS. According the the EWG report (3) (bold text is mine):

Using BPA-coated receipts: Major retailers using BPA-containing receipts in at least some outlets included McDonald’s, CVS, KFC, Whole Foods, Walmart, Safeway and the U.S. Postal Service.

Using BPA-Free receipts: Receipts from some major chains, including Target, Starbucks and Bank of America ATMs, issued receipts that were BPA-free or contained only trace amounts.

Brands that do/do not use BPA can linings

The listings, below, of brands that do/do not use BPA for can linings are from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) (1). See also EcoWatch (4) and MotherJones (5). If these are too fuzzy to read, the originals are on the EWG page (1).

BPA brands-Chart_EWG 060315

BPA-free brands-Chart_EWG 060315

References:

  1. EWG: ewg.org/release/ewg-targets-brands-still-using-toxic-bpa-canned-food (6/3/15)
  2. EWG Petition: action.ewg.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=2151&tag=201505BPAReport&_ga=1.70984848.1665455707.1433439047
  3. EWG: ewg.org/research/bpa-in-store-receipts
  4. EcoWatch: ecowatch.com/2015/06/04/health-impacts-bpa-lined-cans
  5. MotherJones: www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/06/list-canned-foods-bpa

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