BPA or Bisphenol A has been gaining a lot of media attention lately in regards to this chemical leaking out of water bottles, babies formula bottles, general plastic storage containers, etc.
It appears the food packagers are fed up with what they call "media portrayals of BPA as a dangerous chemical".
There was a meeting last week amongst food packagers to come up with a strategy to squash the "media portrayals".
BPA serves to seal food in cans and containers and they state that if this chemical wasn’t used that foods stored in these packages would become contaminated even quicker which puts the consumer at more risk.
What do you think regarding this topic? Should food packagers be using BPA in their containers and bottles? Should they be a different chemical? Or any chemical at all?
Leave your thoughts below.
This group has agreed to pay $500,000 to survey the American public about BPA safety.
Well, let’s conduct the survey here for FREE and I will send them the results.
Leave your opinion below in the comment section. Also be sure to click the facebook and twitter link below to let your friends give their opinion on this.
What Tobacco And BPA Have In Common
Flash forward to last week. Embattled food and chemical industry reps, trying to head off a nationwide ban of the toxic plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in cans, bottles and other food containers, huddle in a back room of Washington’s …
Bisphenol A – Chemical Industry Seeks Pregnant Woman Spokeswoman …
The chemical industry is trying to improve the image of Bisphenol A.
Bisphenol A: Industry Plans New Tactics to Improve Public Image of BPA
Food-packaging and chemical-industry executives and lobbyists plan to use a pregnant woman to reassure Americans that products containing bisphenol A (BPA) are safe for both children and adults, and that BPA is not the dangerous …
Recently Released Research:
BPA May Cause Heart Disease in Women
Bisphenol A Exposure may change DNA in offspring of mice
Exposure to Bisphenol A may be greater than dose considered safe
Make sure you leave your comments and thoughts on this below.
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No chemicals, period.
Why am I not surprised. This sounds just like the corn growers of america extolling the virtues of HFCS through their commercials where they make you look foolish for questioning the notion that HFCS may be bad for you.
Personally, I think we should always question and re-examine things as our socety advances because we learn more and more about our own chemistry as technology improves.
Many of these chemicals were introduced in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s and I’m sure that our knowledge of chemistry and biology has improved much since then. The problem is that these companies have systems in place and to change them (right or wrong) costs lots of money and we all know that companies are not there to serve us, they are there to maximize profits.
For my 2 cents, I’m tired of the “better living through chemistry” mindset that many companies have. They say that there is no proof that it’s harmful, but there’s no proof that it isn’t either. WE ARE THE STUDY GROUP. Scary stuff.
there is little doubt bpa is not suitable for use in containing food or water. advertising it as safe will not make it so. unless a consumer is sure something like a plastic is safe to use it seems prudent to assume it is not and make purchases accordingly. if consumers used their own heads and didn’t rely on obviously biased sources to tell them what is or isn’t safe the market would take care of ‘problems’ like these.
As a member of the general public, I know only what I have been told and what I have read. It’s very difficult to be informed when there are conflicting reports of whether or not something is harmful.
As a first-time expectant mother, I am inclined to think that the best choice is no chemicals whatsoever. Does this mean that my food may be contaminated? Perhaps the shelf-life of packaged foods will not be as long? If the public are forced to eat less packaged foods, or foods that have not been preserved to within an inch of their lives, we will all likely be better off for it. I for one would rather buy whole foods and fresh produce than risk contamination or dangerous chemicals from packaged foods.
Very good point!
If you buy more whole foods and fresh produce then you don’t have to worry about the chemicals from packaged foods.
The average persons has no idea what he is consuming. Usually they just buy products with no thought as to whether the product or packaging might be harmful in any way. It is good when people like yourself take an active role in providing information thereby creating an awareness for the average consumer. In trying to eat healthy it is always best to eat natural foods but it is difficult for a lot of persons to do so given their geographical location and situation. Hence most persons rely on packaged food. Once there is any doubt about safety it should always be investigated. It’s better to investigate and find nothing wrong than to ignore and later suffer the consequenes. Better to be safe than sorry. Keep doing what you are doing
we appreciate it.
I am right there with Max Hoyt. My family stopped purchasing bottled water just because we don’t want to risk yet another toxic chemical in our systems. I don’t think a survey solves the problem. More research might, but only if it includes research into synergistic side effects when BPA mixes with any other chemical…which is clearly not practical or affordable.
On the other hand, I really don’t want the Government making all my decisions for me. Put questionable packaging on labels like we do with nutrients and ingredients. If people decide not to risk BPA, they will stop buying products packaged with BPA, and the market will solve the problem for the manufacturers.
Is there any proven research showing is the harm this special chemical can cause ?
As Abraham Lincoln once observed, “How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”
Just because a bureaucrat states a “fact” doesn’t necessarilly mean he isn’t motivated by money to say it. If BPA is safe, why doesn’t it flow down stream naturally?
I’m inclined to agree with Hal, “No chemicals, period.”
Ask one of these producers if they are willing to store their own water, food stuff
or feed their babies from bottles with bpa. I think they should find a more
natural method or other ingredient. Studies have already shown the bpa leaches
into water when the products are grouped and left to disintegrate on their own.
Ask the people who live in slums where these old trash products pile up. How are
other manufacturers making plastics without it with success? I wonder…is it in our
Tupperware or Glad containers??? Too much of any of these chemicals results in
too many medical “oops” and recalls. How about these same companies looking
at the health records of their employees that handle the processing of these
containers. I say NO to bpa.
The problem with BPA and other health hazards (cigarettes, fast food, etc. etc.) are not causing those who are educated and active serious health problems. As we know in America, it’s not educated consumers who are the problem. Since corporations sell their products to consumers who are unaware of the dangers, they must be responsible for sharing the risks of using their products and pay for damages that result (health problems).
If everyone understood what BPA is and how it’s harmful, people would use glass and stop heating Rubbermaid, Tupperware, and similar products in the microwave. Storing food products in plastic is simply not a good idea, whether or not BPA is eliminated. Think of the surface of a plastic container once it’s been in the microwave and/or dishwasher. The outer protection wears aware, leaving petroleum and other chemicals to leach into your food.
I agree with Jana. How refreshing to go back to not using packaged foods.
Of course, we still have to contend with pesticides, even in organic foods. But
if we return to using whole foods and fresh produce, we are certain to be
healthier. We might even slow down a bit and get into cooking again. I know
that, for me, eating whole foods and fresh produce keeps me lean and strong,
and even solvent. I don’t know about BPA, not being a research scientist, but
I’m fairly certain that it’s just another toxin we can avoid.
Thanks Jayson for raising the issue.
My family doctor has instructed me to remove ALL chemicals/perservaties from the food that I eat and drink. BPA was the first chemical I cut out. Since removing the food with the additives in them my level of health, well-being,energy etc has increased dramatically!
There is really no excuse in highly developed countries for anyone to have to buy bottled water. Many brands are little more than bottled tap water anyway. If people would choose to be on the ‘edge of the supermarket’ diet (thats where the fresh and frozen foods are) there would be no need for packaged or canned foods with all the additives (preservatives, colours, high sodium, high fat, high sugar) and they would naturally die out.
Food companies are not there to promote your health. They are there to make profits for the shareholders. To do this they need the lowest possible costs and achieve this through sourcing cheap produce (read imported and lower quality from questionable sources), lowering the content of the foodstuffs and increasing use of (even) cheaper additives and finally selling large quantities.
You cannot expect others to take responsibility for your food choices and therefore cannot expect others to sort out the inevitable health conditions/diseases that result from those poor choices. On the other hand the statutary regulatory boards/organisations do have a duty of care to make sure that even if of low nutritional value, goods on sale are safe. Until this happens it is an individual responsibility to do the very best you can. Just remember tins used to be lined with lead until the health effects became known!
Gosh, does everybody realised that we and our food is made of chemicals. A substance is not bad simply because it is a chemical. Chemicals are only bad if they do some pathological harm. I prefer to take a more moderate line. I prefer to each food that is safe from pathogens such as bacteria. The best way is obviously to eat whole food. But that is not always possible. I eat a bit of canned tuna and salmon, because I can’t always cook the protein I want at work. So I take the calculated risk that it is better to eat some canned food that is a healthier option to eating fast food even though I may ingest some preservatives. In moderation it is not likely to be harmful.
I don’t think BPA should be used. If they continue to use it, a warning label on products is a good idea. As said before, it is better to buy fresh foods and prepare them yourself, when you have the time. It does get confusing when you read different articles that contradict the other articles. Let’s face it, there are chemicals in everything around us. I try not to obsesse too much about it because it will drive me crazy. If people are informed, they will make the best choice for themselves.
I investigated the BPA thing a couple of months ago. After reading the original research, I’m not worried about BPA. They boiled the baby bottles for 2 hours, let them sit for four days, and then found 2 ppb of BPA (the minimum detectable amount). That’s a bit extreme.
Why ask people for their opinion without presenting the facts – what is the point of a few anecdotal stories – this post has done nothing to add to the debate. Surely you could have tried to prevent some evidence one way or another? Why just scare people if it isn’t warranted – like with silicon breast implants?
It is not about trying to sway people with what I believe are the fact or not the facts. It is about gathering information and opinions just as the government is doing for $500K. If they are going to make their decision based off of opinion then why can’t we? Obviously the facts are mixed and no one really knows the true answer or else their wouldn’t be such a debate right now. This is a way for others to present what they know as Kent did here “I investigated the BPA thing a couple of months ago. After reading the original research, I’m not worried about BPA. They boiled the baby bottles for 2 hours, let them sit for four days, and then found 2 ppb of BPA (the minimum detectable amount). That’s a bit extreme”.
Jayson
Hi, to my knowledge, there must be other ways of sealing containers? I’m also
all for the whole foods. I do not like processed food.
I am opposed to extra chemicals added to our food. I try to eat whole foods as much as possible, however, sometimes I have to eat packaged or fast foods as I am not always home to cook. I drink skim milk and water only. I used to drink diet sodas, but I cut them out. I do n ot like coffee or tea-so water it is. I live in an area where the tap water is not good or real safe. I use a filter. Here is my biggest problem-I live in Arizona where we have to have a drink in our hands all of our waking hours. I use bottled water when I am out and about-which is often as I am self-employed. The individual water bottles are now no good and what about gallon bottles? I keep a cooler in my car with ice, but I am not sure how to get around this issue. Any suggestions?
99% of packaged food especially processed foods purchased in groceries/supermarkets are done with chemicals. And advertisements lure people to buy such kind of foods. Health agencies have contrasting statements and some even endorsed them. Public must be more conscious which food has less or no chemicals at all. Each much promote fresh organically grown plants and must not start raising them in our backyards. Continue to be informed and share information and knowledge with others. Our problem is how to escape these all chemically-done foods? If we can stop buying them, start now! Spread the truth of the danger we got from them. At home, we buy our purifier and distiller, no plastic bottled water and no to canned goods unless necessary, no to fast food, etc… It was a problem at first but now my family has adjusted already.. START NOW!
If we cooked our own food and ate fresh vegetables and fruit and filtered our water at home, we’d all be a lot better off. Our society has become lazy and impatient. Most kids today don’t even know how to cook “real” food. We need to make sure our kids know how to do all of these things or prepackaged meals will be the way of the future as well as all the chemicals to preserve them.
I love this topic Jason. I think Leigh Peele covered it best in a resent post she did on her new blog.
http://www.leighpeele.com/plastic-bottles-safe-or-unsafe
I think that it is the right idea to try and change standard instead of envoke fear.
This does not suprise me at all. How many coverups can one nation handle? I wish the american people would wake up and realize that it’s all about profits… bottom line. Corporations care little about your health. Whatever is cheaper for them to do, they are gonna do. They will pay “experts” to dispute claims when they know things are unsafe for us… its happened time and time again. Other nations have outlawed certain things because they know it isn’t good but we still allow them. Why is that? Wake up folks and smell the coffee.
BPA is already having disastrous effects on people & wildlife. However, I still buy bottled water to avoid fluoridated tapwater.
If the public knew how much we are lied to by big pharma, the food industry, our governemtn, we would all run and hide in a hole. We MUST take personal responsibility for what we read, eat and drink. It would be great if we all lived on the farm and grew our own produce, had chickens for our eggs and raised grass fed beef. Short of that, consumer beware! Stop buying the junk and it will dissappear….We all know what to do – just do it. BPA is more than likely less than safe at the least and a huge health risk at the worst. Unless you are the scientist in the lab, you only know what you are told and the people telling the tales have a big agenda and it ain’t about protecting ou, my friend.