Is there a concern for occurrence of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food products?

Animal toxicity studies show that exposure to high levels of BPA can cause hormonal changes. Because interference with the levels or activity of hormones has been associated with health effects such as cancer and developmental defects, some people have said that BPA is not safe. However, recognised experts and regulatory authorities are of the opinion that the very low level of BPA that consumers are exposed to means that these effects will not occur with human exposure.

Some studies claim to show that BPA causes hormonal changes at very low levels (a so-called ‘low-dose effect’). There is a lot of controversy surrounding this low-dose effect because when these studies were repeated in different laboratories, the same changes were not seen. This is important because it is a principal of scientific research that findings should be reproducible to ensure they have not arisen by chance. Recognised experts and regulatory authorities do not therefore take these studies into account when setting safe limits for BPA.

Current research indicates that BPA does not accumulate in the body and the small amounts from daily exposure are rapidly excreted. Based on these findings and the limited exposure of BPA from food and drinks in plastic containers and cans, there is no reason for consumers to change their choice of food items.

Related Information
1) EPA Statement Regarding Endocrine Disruptor Low-Dose Hypothesis, March 26, 2002 (http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo/docs/edmvs/lowdosepolicy.pdf)

2) NTP Report of the Endocrine Disruptor Low Dose Peer Review, August 1, 2001
(http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/liason/LowDosePeerFinalRpt.pdf)

3) European Commission Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food on Bisphenol A (http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out128_en.pdf)

4) UK Food Standards Agency Statement on a Survey of Bisphenols in Canned foods (http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/bisphenols.pdf)

5) European Food Safety Authority Statement regarding the re-evaluation of BPA safety, January 29, 2007 (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/afc/afc_opinions/bisphenol_a.html)

6) European Food Safety Authority Fact Sheet on BPA, February 26, 2007 (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press_room/questions_and_answers/faq_on_bisphenol_a.html)

7) Meeting Summary, National Toxicology Program, Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, Expert Panel Evaluation of Bisphenol A (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/draftBPA_MtgSumm080807.pdf)

8) Ausgewählte Fragen und Antworten zu Bisphenol A in Babyfläschchen. Aktualisierte FAQ vom 29. Januar 2007 (http://www.bfr.bund.de/cd/7195)