Potentially harmful BPA still present in canned foods

FOOD Magazine: Research conducted by the Breast Cancer Fund has found harmful levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) in a number of popular canned products.

The study by the US organization found many of the canned goods commonly used over Thanksgiving and Christmas, including gravy, carnation milk, corn, beans and cranberry sauce, contain potentially damaging levels of BPA.

“Single servings of almost half of the products tested had levels of BPA comparable to levels that laboratory studies have linked to adverse health effects,” the report said.

Jeanne Rizzo, president and chief executive of the Breast Cancer Fund said families should be able to feel safe when eating festive meals.

"How many more Thanksgivings will families have to worry about this uninvited guest before manufacturers finally decide to take it out of cans?”

Centre for Food Safety - Risk in Brief - Bisphenol A and Food Safety

Centre for Food Safety Hong Kong

"1.Consumer goods including baby bottles and food containers on sale in HK have undergone testing by Customs and Excise Department regularly. Over the past few years, all samples tested for BPA migration complied with the safety standard.

2. CFS will keep in view the international development on latest assessment work on BPA for follow-up actions."

Regulator says banned chemical Bisphenol A is not a risk to Australians

Courier Mail: "Consumer advocates Choice last week revealed 29 of 38 canned food items tested contained the chemical 'at levels some experts believe could be harmful'. But FSANZ, which is responsible for the safety of packaged foods, said this week that none of the BPA detected in the Choice study comes close to breaching internationally accepted safety limits of 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight a day.

'No one is eating unsafe levels,' a spokeswoman said."

The results from FSANZ's own study into the migration levels of BPA into a range of packaged foods are due to be released in October.

Study: BPA in Food Packaging Not a Health Risk

www.foodproductdesign.com: "Scientists and health advocates worldwide have debated the health risks associated with Bisphenol A (BPA); however, new research on BPA levels in foods and baby products by consumer group Choice maintain that levels of exposure to BPA are safe and don’t pose a significant health risk, according to the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).

AFGC added that many leading food authorities, including Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), agree that BPA in food packaging poses no health risks. In fact, the latest findings revealed that none of the 38 canned foods tested contained BPA levels above the European Union’s limit of 660 parts per billions (ppb)."

Health risks in a can

Australian Food News: "Laboratory tests by CHOICE of a range of popular canned foods including a number of baby food products has revealed concerning levels of the chemical Bisphenol A
(BPA).

Bisphenol A has been used for many years to make polycarbonate plastic and is found in epoxy resins which are used to line cans to prevent corrosion. CHOICE tested 38 samples of canned foods commonly found on Australian supermarket shelves and found 29 contained BPA at levels some experts believe could be harmful."

Grocers call for calm over BPA

SMH.co.auA: "The peak body for Australia's grocers has called for calm on the issue of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging, stating it poses no 'danger to humans' at levels detected.

The call followed testing by consumer group CHOICE which found that, of 38 samples of canned foods commonly found on Australian supermarket shelves, 29 contained BPA at levels 'some experts believe could be harmful'.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) said the study did not find any cases of BPA in Australian canned foods above safety limits set by the European Union.

'There's no scientific evidence internationally that has shown any dangers to humans from BPA in canned products or bottles,' AFGC deputy chief executive Dr Geoffrey Annison said in a statement on Thursday.

'Products containing BPA have been subject to significant and rigorous investigations by leading world authorities and, in recent years, food regulators in the United States, UK and the EU have examined the latest findings and have determined that the use of BPA continues to be safe.'"

Fears 'safe limit' of chemical found in food containers is wrong

Brisbance Times: "But the authors of a study of BPA levels in tinned foods said there is international evidence the safe limit needs to be lowered.

''The risk has been underestimated in the past and new science is showing that low levels of BPA can be harmful,'' said David Oakenfull, a food scientist who conducted the survey for the consumer group Choice.

While Australian retailers are phasing out baby bottles containing BPA, which can leach into food when containers are heated, there has been less attention to the BPA-contamination risk in canned foods, Dr Oakenfull said.

''Food is sealed in the can and heated under pressure above boiling point to kill bacteria. Before cans were lined [with plastic] the food was exposed to tin, which has its risks, too.''

Choice tested 38 canned foods including baby food and coconut milk and found 29 contained ''concerning'' quantities of BPA. Three of the products - Edgell canned corn, John West tuna and Heinz banana baby custard - contained BPA levels between 300 and 420 parts per billion.

While all the products tested were in the acceptable range for BPA, Dr Oakenfull said FSANZ should review the data but feared industry pressure would prevent it from taking a leading role."

Australia's food watchdog says there is no proof of danger drugs in food

Herald Sun: "The Australian Food and Grocery Council maintains, however, that there is no evidence to suggest food packaged in cans containing BPA is harmful.

'There's no scientific evidence internationally that has shown any dangers to humans from BPA in canned products or bottles,'' the Council's spokesman Dr Geoffrey Annison said in a statement.

'Products containing BPA have been subject to significant and rigorous investigations by leading world authorities and, in recent years, food regulators in the United States, UK and the EU have examined the latest findings and have determined that the use of BPA continues to be safe.''

Consumer advocate Choice demanded Bisphenol A be stripped from all tinned foods fed to infants and toddlers after conducting tests on a range of common products."