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| Toxic chemical BPA found in child-targeted canned foods |
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 While plastic products have often been the focus of toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA), that threat has all but been eliminated in the United States. The new villain lurking on our pantry shelves just may be canned foods, even those we are feeding our children. BPA is classified as an endocrine disruptor and can imitate the hormone estrogen and acts as an anti-androgen. It can be most harmful in developing fetuses, newborns and young children. Research has shown the link between the exposure of BPA and the increased risks of diabetes and heart disease, as well as found an association between the exposure to BPA and being obese. Sadly, BPA can be found in the urine of 90 percent of newborns, making them most at risk. A new study by the Breast Cancer Fund—a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and eliminating environmental links to breast cancer—tested six child-targeted canned products for traces of BPA. Manufacturers typically use a lining containing BPA in metal cans to help protect against food-borne illnesses. Connie Engel, science education coordinator at the Breast Cancer Fund, said that the focus was on canned products “specifically marketed to kids: either ones with pictures of favorite cartoon characters or labels that said something about kids….. The levels [of BPA] we found in these canned foods were a little higher than those previously found in baby bottles and water bottles.” According to the report, while a child-sized serving of these foods may result in BPA exposure at a level of concern, the repeated servings of canned soups, pastas, vegetables, fruits that a child eats in a week, in a year, and throughout the developing years, are of concern. In May of 2010, The National Workgroup for Safe Markets released a report detailing a study conducted on BPA found in food packaged in metal cans. The findings included the fact that 92 percent of the canned foods tested (46 out of 50 products) contained some level of BPA. The levels varied amongst different foods and cans, but also within different manufacturing dates of the same food. At the same time, the Grocery Manufacturers Association released a statement reassuring the public that “scientific sources and regulatory agencies affirm the safe use of BPA.” The FDA has reviewed the risk of BPA in the past and the National Institute of Health has invested $30 million to study BPA. While some states and countries have banned the use of BPA, the United States has not. If you are feeding a young child canned foods, there is wisdom in avoiding processed items and sticking with a diet of fresh foods, to prevent further build-up of the toxic chemical in the body. Testing has shown that by eliminating all BPA-related foodstuffs for even just a few days, you can reduce BPA levels by up to 60 percent. - There are additional ways to avoid exposure to BP: * Look for products labeled BPA free. There are more products available than ever with no BPA, but they may cost more than the same items which contain BPA. * If hard polycarbonate plastics are used they should not be used for heating or serving any kind of food products. Freezing in polycarbonate plastic does not pose a risk. * Do not wash polycarbonate plastic containers in the dishwasher with harsh chemicals and heated drying cycles. (Source: healthnews)
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