First it was acrylamide, followed by semicarbazide, now it’s bisphenol A. Bisphenol A, also referred to as BPA, is a chemical used in the development of some food packaging materials including reusable plastic containers for food and beverages and the linings of cans used for food products.
BPA use in food packaging has been extensively tested and recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies worldwide, including the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Food, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the UK Food Standards Agency. It has been used in consumer products for well over 40 years and the FDA regulates its use in food packaging materials.
Some individuals have alleged that exposure to BPA can cause cancer, tumors, and developmental and hormonal changes in humans. However, in 2007 a scientific review panel of the National Toxicology Program expressed “negligible concern for adverse health effects from exposure to BPA for the general population.”
For more information about bisphenol A and links to additional credible resources, see the IFIC Q&A at: www.ific.org. Key word: BPA
