Health & Parenting

Study: BPA Common in Kids' Canned Foods

How to Reduce BPA Exposure

Together with the National Toxicology Program, the FDA is carrying out in-depth studies to assess the health risks of BPA exposure in humans.

Until those results are in, the FDA is taking reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply, including supporting efforts to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels in food can linings.

Rost says the canning industry is investigating alternatives to BPA-based epoxy liners. But they are a long way from finding a replacement that matches its 30-year track record in preventing food-borne illness in packaged foods.

While the jury may still be out on the potential health effects of BPA, experts say there are simple steps to reduce BPA exposure. They include:

• Choose fresh food over canned whenever possible.
• If fresh is not an option, seek frozen foods or those packed in Tetra Paks, which look like big juice boxes. Remove frozen foods from plastic bags or trays before heating.
• Microwave foods in ceramic or glass containers rather than plastic.