My inquiry to Trader Joe's regarding their canned goods elicited this response:

"Michael,
We appreciate your inquiry. Our canned goods are lined with a BPA free, food grade enamel.

Thank you for shopping at Trader Joe's,
Amy
Customer Relations"

Are they correct?

I thought that enamel linings did not contain BPA.

MikeP: Oh they said that, did they?

To our knowledge, BPA is used by virtually every canned food manufacturer. The only possible alternative we've heard of, oleoresinous materials, is considerably more expensive to produce, so virtually no one uses it.

They may be using related chemicals, namely bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), or bisphenol F (also known by their technical names), which could leach BPA into food.

They may also be using a testing technology that isn't sensitive enough to detect low levels of BPA in their products.

If a company claims that their can linings do not contain BPA, they should be able to tell you what they use instead. If you do respond and ask them for more information, I'd be interested to see what they tell you. We just sent them an email for clarification, and we'll keep you posted on what we find out.

Amanda,

What does a BPA food-can liner look like? Is it transparent, does it look like white plastic? Is it possible to identify whether a can is lined or not just by opening it up and looking at it?

Thanks,
Maria

Maria- You don't even have to look. As far as we know, with the exception of Eden Organic Beans, all metal food cans are lined with a BPA-based epoxy resin. On top of that, the lining of those cans of beans looks exactly like a BPA-based lining. You'd never be able to tell the difference.

I asked this question before and have asked it of several organizations, but no answer so far. Is BPA used in the box containers used by Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and many others to store soups and stocks (chicken, vegetable etc.)? These containers typically have a pull tab top on the box. Thank you.

Good question, Courtney. From what we know, those tetrapak containers are made up of six layers of material, including paper, aluminum, and polyethylene. Polyethylene is a relatively benign plastic that doesn't contain BPA.

I am wondering about the plastic tableware marketed toward kids that contain melamine resin? How safe is it? Thanks :) Sheryl

Well, Sheryl, I can tell you that it most likely doesn't contain BPA! That's all I know off the top of my head, but I'll see if I can find any info about it.

I have a food dehydrator which is made from polycarbonate (the shell; the shelves are coated with teflon). The food isn't in contact with the polycarbonate, but is surrounded by it with low heat temperatures. What's the risk of the food absorbing BPA while in the dehydrator? The operating temperature is typically between 95 - 105 degrees F.

Okay, random question - are there any concerns with BPA in silicone kitchen ware? Or melanine plates/cups? Thanks!!

Leah- I can't say for sure, since there's no research on the subject, but the fact that the temperatures are relatively low and the food doesn't touch the polycarbonate is a very good sign. If nothing else, your exposure from your dehydrated food is likely considerably less than your exposure from canned food.

Maureen- Thanks for your question! There shouldn't be any BPA in food or medical grade silicone, period. I believe the same is true about melamine tableware.

Excellent post Amanda, thanks for sharing this! I've gotten similar questions so I'll be sure to highlight it over on the site.

Should we be concerned about pop cans? Thank you!

Is the AeroGarden safe? I have had a difficult time finding info on the plastic it is made of or where it is manufactured. I believe it heats the water that the plant roots come in contact with.

Thanks so much for this info.
What about those plastic boil-in bags or "microwavable" bags that so much frozen food is packaged in these days?

Hey-

No question. Just want to say THANK YOU for the service and the information. And give a huge plea to those people reading this to take a minute and donate to EWG, even if it is just $10 to show your appreciation for this incredible information. And I don't work for EWG :)

I purchase organic salad mix in #7 PLA which is made out of some type of corn something. I called the company & they weren't real sure what BPA was, but said it didn't contain it. Hmm, what do you think? If it does, would it leach into a cold spring salad mix?

How about a list of the "good" plastics-anything made of polyethelene? (does it have a number?) Which ones do we avoid? Am trying to switch to glass and stainless but there's still a lot of plastic in my cupboards. I don't want to throw out harmless kinds.....

Is there BPA in plastic cups that are marked with a number 5?

In response to Leah regarding the food dehydrator, teflon has not been called into question health-wise for leaching PFOA into foods & accumulating in our bodies. So, that may be something to consider regarding the dehydrator.

What about the plastic pitcher for the vita mix? this is used to make both hot and cold items.

Hi,
What about my plastic to-go coffee cup? BPA or other toxins? Thanks!
Betty

Amanda,

What about cans made in Europe, e.g. Italian canned tomatoes.
Are these also lined with BPA?

What about the polycarbonate containers on the high speed blenders - like the Vitamix, Blender Tech and Jack Lalane? Typically they are used to make smoothies, or they can be used to make hot soups?

Trader Joe's cans DO contain BPA. The manager at our local store got info from the corporate office for me about a year ago including specific levels of BPA measured in some of their soups. The levels they measured in their Lentil soup, which we love, was comparable to the levels EWG measured in their tests of soups (We make our own soup now...). I hope that helps.

What would be considered acceptable levels? i.e. how many canned foods a week - like the guidelines they give us for fish. I know that ideally it would be none but from a financial standpoint that is not always possible.

WHAT ABOUT THE PLASTIC WRAP ON INDIVIDUAL SLICED CHEESE SINGLES? WE ONLY BUY HORIZON ORGANIC. THEN THERE IS THE YOGURT CONTAINER AND THE MILK JUG! ARE THESE SAFE?

Are there any studies that test well used nalgene bottles and the amount of toxins released? are they already depleted? Do they continue to release?

What kind of bottles should we use then to drink/ refill water out of?

Thank you

Anabella

Does anyone know of BPA free reusable/disposable food containers?

Holy comments, Batman!

I just want you guys to know that I'm reading all of your questions, and I'll respond as soon as I can. Thanks!

I checked with Amy's Kitchen, who carry a great and popular line of natural and organic products -- as well as canned beans and soups... Alas, they still have BPA in their can coatings. They said: "We are concerned when we hear questions about epoxy coatings in our cans that may contain extremely low levels of BPA. Traditionally, the coatings have been used to prevent the food from contacting the metal container.

While we have been assured about the safety of the coatings, we are actively searching for alternatives. We are also doing storage testing to determine if we could safely replace the coating with other coatings, or whether we could eliminate it completely on some products. These storage studies take a number of months to get results. We are actively evaluating any coating or container that might give our customers a greater degree of comfort."

Amy's also followed with comments about contradictory scientific studies, and mentioned that the European Food Safety Authority has recently finished a review of scientific studies about BPA exposure, and concluded that "the setting of a full rather than a temporary Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) is now appropriate, following an extensive review of all available data. People's dietary exposure to BPA, including that of infants and children, is well below the new TDI."
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_BisphenolAFAQs.htm

My kid's sippy cups with recycle mark 2--am I slowly poisoning them? What is the best alternative sippy?
Thanks!
yvette

What abt the red or blue (Dixie brand) large party cups you can buy...can't read the number on the bottom...it is either a 3, 8 or 6??
anyone know the safety?

Courtney, re. soda cans: They are lined with a BPA-based epoxy resin. In our tests, they generally had lower levels than canned food.

Laura, re. canned food from other countries: Tests of canned food from the EU, Mexico and Japan showed that they all had bpa-based liners.

Kathy, re. "steamer" and boil-in bags: I don't have any specific information for you, but in general it's a good idea to avoid plastic+heat if you can.

Sarabeth, Rhonda and Yvette, re. "good" plastics: Although we're not comfortable calling any plastic "good" or "safe," I can certainly appreciate the question. Based on the information we have now, plastic numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 do not contain BPA or phthalates, two of the most concerning chemicals in plastic.

Many of you (Michelle, Victoria, Tara, Betty, Criss, Burns, Terry, Katie) asked great questions which, unfortunately, we can't answer. In some cases it's because we don't have enough information (Betty, what number is on your plastic to-go cup?), and in other cases it's because, as of now, no one has done the studies. If, at some point in the future, we have more information on any of those topics, I'll be sure to post about it here on Enviroblog. In the meantime, keep in mind that minimizing your use of canned foods and #7 plastic drink containers will go a long way towards reducing your exposure to BPA.

To those of you who responded with added information (Kathleen, SherylAnn, Sue), thanks!

Thanks for the plug, Becky! It's true that EWG devotes a lot of staff time to answering questions from the public, especially considering what a small nonprofit we are. We love being useful and answering questions, but we appreciate your support -- no matter what amount it comes in!

Thanks for all this great information. I didn't see any mention of the hard plastic Brita water filter containers. This has been a concern of mine - ours doesn't have any number on the bottom, but seems like it could be the same material as many of those BPA containing hard plastic water bottles. ???

Please disregard my questions concering Brita water pitchers. For some reason I over looked the entire section you have dedicated to it. Sorry... again, thanks for ALL the info - it's overwhelming!

First off, I just want to express my great feelings for you all. It is so awesome to know there are others our there that are concerned about these things. I live in Kansas City, and it is just not as prevelent here.

I just wanted to add my two cents on baby/child safety. I have an 8 month old daughter. We use glass baby bottles - love them! When she is a little older, she won't use sippy cups, just the 4 oz glass bottles for drinking. We will probably buy a Kleen canteen bottle also. I found these wonderful rosewood tea spoons on ebay a while back and have been using them for baby spoons. they are wonderful. Hand carved, not expensive, soft, etc. Most of her toys are either wooden or cloth. The plastic ones are kept our of her mouth. She is pretty attached to her pacifier - She puts both sides in her mouth. I don't like that, but I don't know what to do. I might order some soft wood off of ebay and carve her a wooden pacifier. Why not? anything that is shaped in a way that allows her to suck would work. I will point out that we are very poor right now. So, the things we do do not cost very much money. I also want to urge people to use cloth diapers. Just ask if you want more info. Thanks! Chelle

Hey, I also wanted to mention that between phthalates and BPA, it is much safer to just avoid plastic all together - especially in children's products. - By the way, Gerber's baby food that is in rectangle, plastic containers has a #7.

@Chelle: Gerber baby food in the #7 plastics are BPA Free. & plastics are layered or combination resins. In their case the plastic is made of #1 and #2 plastic combined.

Back in 2003 I researched available information on plastics and food safety. Here is a summary of what I found (including the BPA information from EWG).

SPI code 3 — Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The most toxic plastic. Toxins can leech into foods (especially fatty foods and at higher temperatures), possibly disrupting normal hormonal functioning, and causing reproductive disorders and cancer. It is used for:
• Commercial shrink wraps for meat and cheese
• Saran Wrap and Reynolds Wrap
• Plastic trays in boxed cookies or chocolates
• Snack chips bags
• Candy bar wrappers
• Baby bottle nipples

SPI code 6 — Polystyrene. Styrene can leach into foods, possibly disrupting normal hormonal functioning and causing cancer. It is used for:
• Styrofoam coffee cups
• Meat and bakery trays
• Take-out containers
• Plastic utensils

SPI code 7 — Other (all other types; usually Polycarbonate). Polycarbonate can release bisphenol A (BPA) into liquids and foods, possibly disrupting normal hormonal functioning, and causing miscarriages and birth defects. It is used for:
• Almost all food and aluminum can linings
• Vita-Mix and other home blenders and food processors
• 5-gallon water bottles
• Baby bottles
• Take-out containers
• Gravity-feed bulk food bins

The other four plastic types — SPI codes 1, 2, 4 and 5 — are less harmful, but their complete safety can not be assured. The items listed above are not always made from the plastic type indicated. e.g. some take-out containers are made of Low-density Polyethylene — SPI code 4.

I recommend: (1) always check SPI codes on plastics that contact food, (2) write to food companies and urge them to use less harmful alternatives to SPI 3, 6 and 7 plastics, (3) remember that heat greatly increases the leeching of toxins from plastics into foods, (4) use glass, ceramic and stainless steel containers, butcher paper and cloth bags for your food, as much as possible.

Thanks to EWG for their efforts, and I plan to watch this site for additional information.

Hi - For six months, I used Medela MICROWAVE Sterilization bags to steam sterilize my baby's Dr. Brown's bottles every time after use. I am now panicking about the effect on her. Any suggestions / advice on what I should do now? Any symptoms I should watch for? Any testing I can have done?
Thanks!

Bob,

Thank you very much for your info. It was interesting to me that SPI3 is used to wrap cheese. Using plastic to wrap cheese has always bothered me because I know that fatty substances more easily absorb chemicals.

When I lived in Europe in the early 1990s I had fights with people selling cheese because I insisted they wrap my choice in paper rather than plastic. They used to say "but this plastic wrap is specially designed for cheese".

Thanks to EWG for the research and great information! This site will be my list of favorites.

What about the little plastic tubes used to hold "dry eye drops" like Visine Pure Tear Portables, without preservatives, I use 4 times a day? Any better alternatives? Their new Pure Tears single drop dispense with antibacterial silver coil in the tip to help prevent contamination? Thousands of people put this type of product in their eyes several times a day. Thanks.

How about the big Culligan water bottles that get delivered? Are they bad also?

I wasn't sure if my last question was recieved. I would like to know if there are any safe or safer sippy cups as I have a toddler and am concerned. I would like to know the cup she is drinking from is not full of BPA.

Thank you for all your help.

Katie F.

Do you know if there have been studies done on the plastic water pipes in homes? All I've been able to find is their affect on taste. Thank you so much!

Hope this isn't a totally dumb question...
Have their been any findings of BPA leaching in foods kept cool in the fridge in plastic wrap or plastic containers or is it only in hot foods or in the heating of foods? Also...does the type of food make a difference? For example, would dry cereal or crackers in a plastic container be any better off than having a more moist food product stored in it?
Thanks so much you guys for ALL that you do for us!!

Just to add to the confusion, I have read that any stainless steel which is non-magnetic (a magnet isn't attracted to it at all) contains toxic amounts of nickel and sould not come in contact with foods or beverages. Elaborate, anyone?

I buy BioNaturae canned tomatoes because the can says it is "lined and lead-free"... I guess I was fooled. Does Eden use the safe lining in other products besides beans???

Vita-mix claims that their new 5200 blender is Tritan copolyester, and BPA free. I don't think it's available yet however, as you couldn't order it from their site.

Re: sippy cups, I have been using a relatively new product called Born Free which advertises itself as BPA free.

RE: sippy cups
Try Born Free non-BPA plastic sippy cups, or to go plastic free, try the Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottles with a sippy adaptor or a sports spout for older kids. It also has screw-on tops for adults and come in a range of sizes, all with the same wide-mouth dimensions. A very versatile investment.

RE: stainless steel (SS)

from Klean Kanteen website
All SS for food should be "food grade" 304 stainless steel which has a low nickel content. Stainless steel has excellent resistance to stain or rust due to its chromium content making it a material of choice among the food processing, dairy and brewery industries. Stainless steel is easy to clean, durable, inert and sanitary.

further notes:
Stainless steel is a alloy created at ~1600degC versus polycarbonate which MELTS at ~300degC.

I'm looking for smallish SS containers with lids for packing kids snacks - anyone have ideas? We use glass ones so far, but can get heavy for a picnic.

Great discussion Amanda - Thanks!

Thank you so much for the info. on the born free sippy cups. I knew about the bottles, but I didn't realize they made sippy cups as well. I will be purchasing them soon, however, I would still like to know if the regular brands (Gerber, Playtex, etc.) are safe or not. I have so many already and don't want to have to throw cups away if I don't have to.

Thank you,
Katie

We use NatureWorks Compostable
cups which have a 7 -"other"
on the bottom. I emailed the company a week ago and have not
heard from them. Any info
about the danger of BPA would
be helpful. Thanks - Mtnmom

Laura,

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the commercial plastic wrap used for cheese in Europe is safer than the commercial plastic wrap used in the U.S. Safer wraps are available, and Europe is much more health conscious than the U.S.

Note that, among consumer plastic wraps, Saran Wrap and Reynolds Wrap are made of (toxic) polyvinyl chloride (SPI 3), while Handi-Wrap and Glad Wrap are made of (safer) low-density polyethylene (SPI 4).

Mtnmom,

The answer to your question about SPI 7 plastic cups is found in paragraph 3 of Amanda's post, under the heading "Stuff you drink out of."

Also, see my March 14 post.

Actually, Mtnmom, this is a special case. In plastic-land, #7 means "other" -- and although much of this is polycarbonate, some other plastics fall into that category too. Your compostable cups don't contain BPA as far as we know.

Just an idea for anyone interested in switching from the plastic water jugs, to a BPA free water bottle for refilling. We recently quit doing the "PRIMO" water bottle exchange for our water crock. We were using the 5 gallon jugs and when I realized they were #7 bottles, which I think most water jugs for this use are, we stopped. I wasn't sure what else to do until I found out about the glass carboy jugs used for beer homebrewing. We've since purchased two 3 gallon glass jugs and I just take them in and refill them when needed at our local grocer with the water refilling station. When filled, they are no heavier than the full 5 gallon plastic jugs we were exchanging for...and you can get carboy handles to help with lifting and carrying. This is also great since the water refilling stations have the reverse osmosis option for water! Especially great with all the prescription drugs, hormones, meds etc. found in the tap water in many of our homes. Using the water crock also cuts down significantly on your recycling of plastic bottles. We just refill our Klean Kanteen bottles with water from the crock. Your local homebrew supply store should carry glass carboys in 3, 5 and 6 gallon sizes and they should have stoppers or caps for them as well. You can also find some online and on ebay as well. Keep in mind that anything above the 3 gallon size tends to get a bit heavy for lifting when filled. Hope this helps with another idea.
SCMOMof2

I've learned that the housing and other components of my 3-stage water filter (ceramic/KDF/GAC) are made of polypropylene and polyethylene plastics, and contain no BPA. Pureearth.com seems to be a reputable company, and they respond to email inquiries.

The only thing my filter doesn't remove is fluoride, so I'm considering going to the MINI-CLASSIC 2 all-stainless-steel water distiller. See: mypurewater.com.

Does anyone have experience or advice?

Does anyone know what type of plastic is used for water cooler-type jugs (such as are found in offices)?

Also, did anyone come back with an answer about Gerber sippy cups?

Thanks,
Sue

Sue, those 5-gallon jugs (which are clear/translucent, rigid plastic, and likely marked with a number 7) are polycarbonate and may leach BPA.

What about the plastic bags available for use at grocery stores for produce or bulk food items? You know, the big ones with the twisty ties.

Thanks!

Well, Abby, I don't know off the top of my head what kind of plastic those bags are made of, but I can tell you it's not polycarbonate. No risk of BPA there.

This winter I had stopped buying all the canned tomatoes, and switched to ready made organic tomato sauces in glass jars instead. Now I am wondering about the lids of these glass jars. I remember a big discussion in Germany about 10 years ago, that they found different chemicals (and I do not remember which ones)leaching out of the lid of baby jars into the baby food. So is tomatosauce in glass jars not contaminated with BPA? Are there now other chemicals in the sauce from the lining of the lids? is the concentration at least less than in the cans, because most of the package is glass?
Thanks, Christine

Are the lids to glass jars, like spaghetti sauce, coated with BPA?

As far as we know, the lids of most (if not all) glass jars, including canning jars, are coated with a BPA-based epoxy resin.

That's the bad news. The good news is that there's considerably less surface contact between the resin and the food than there is with a regular cans. It's not perfect, but in terms of BPA glass jars are a safer choice than metal cans.

I eat Lean Cuisines, and I was wondering about the plastic containers used in many of those.... So I went and looked on one. It says #1 PETE... so if I have read everything correctly, this is one of the "safer" non-BPA plastics... am I correct?

Also, another post got me thinking about my guinea pigs (the comment was about rodents being more or less sensitive than humans)... My pigs have plastic water bottles, and the majority of their housing is made from Coroplast... the corrugated plastic used to make a lot of yard signs. I'm not planning to spend any money to change their housing... but I was just wondering about the impact the chemicals may have on them....??

I have 2 PUR water pitchers at home that we use constantly, so I was wondering about the plastic used in those. I found this on their website: "Our pitchers are made from safe, high-quality plastics found in the polystyrene family. NSF International, a national independent testing laboratory, assures us that no harmful substances 'leach' into the filtered water from any of the materials we use in the production of PUR. You can be confident you're getting cleaner, healthier, great-tasting water when you use PUR products."

According to Bob's earlier post, polystyrene is not good stuff. So, can someone please give me the bottom line!

Looking for not-so-breakable safe dishes for toddler. I remember Corelle from my childhood being nearly unbreakable. Any idea of the safety regarding the laminate used to hold the three layers of glass together? Thanks a bunch! :)

Hi everyone,

I am so happy to have found a place where people are concerned about health and the chemical bombardment that we ALL are exposed to.
My questions are:

1. What about the lining in milk, juice cartons?
2. 1s reverse osmosis a good water filter? I am looking for Watts Premier VOC WP-4

Thank you and keep the good work. I think, that the people concerned about all these chemicals in our foods and environment are the revolutionaries that will help WIN this chemical war.

At what temperature do my teflex sheets, used in my dehydrator, become warm enough to leech toxins. I regularly make flax seed crackers and keep the temperature between 109 and 114 degrees, while dehydrating. After 10/12hours I turn onto the plastic screening for completion.

My question is are the new Vita Mix tritan copolyester containers safe? Has there been any testing done on tritan copolyester? I cannot get a straight answer from vita mix as they assure me that the polycarbonate container is safe. It would be nice if they could come up with a glass container or a satinless steel one like they use to have.

Thanks for cutting through some of the media stuf and offering some solid facts.

I think it would be helpful to point out that #7 plastic does not mean it is polycarbonate and does not mean it contains BPA. Many plastics fall into the same recycle category (#7) as Polycarbonate. This is because #7 means "other". 1 - 6 are specific plastics which can be separated. The plastics industry picked #7 for everything else. Which usually means that they are not recycled at all - but that's a different post.

Since #7 means "other" it is not a reliable way to identify polycarbonate or BPA risks.

BTW – An earlier post questions NatureWorks PLA (the corn based plastic) which is sometime marketed with #7. It does not contain BPA and NatureWorks has a very progressive policy about chemicals and additives that companies must not add to PLA when they make products. (I have no connection to the firm).

Thanks for your comment, Kevin, and for the info on PLA -- that's good to know.

While you're right that not *all* #7 plastics contain BPA, *only* #7 plastics contain BPA (square, meet rectangle), so I still think it's a good general guideline for avoiding polycarbonate if you're not sure.

Can somone tell me what water in the 5 gallon jugs is OK, my Poland Spring has a 7,
Anyone know about Fiji or Volvic, or any others?
Also, how can we tust the water in Whole Foods that is filtered, they must store it in something?

7-11 Slurpee cups. I just noticed the collector cups are #7 - but can't find any info on these cups anywhere. Our son, loves these cups. Any ideas?

Does anyone know about the starbucks coffee cups that are plastic lined? They have a #7 on the bottom

I did receive an email from 7-11 and they noted that the slurpee cup would be a 5 except for the fact they have some insulating materials built into the collector cups which makes them a 7. The materials though contain no BPA.

The NatureWorks PLA sounds very interesting. If there is no BPA, and no harmful leaching... isn't this the answer we are looking for?

I share water from my alkaline water system with others in large 7-gallon plastic containers. If the PLA is better, I would like to use them.

Corey, that's a great idea. the PLA is made to be compostable, right? So I don't know how good it would be for reusing or long-term storage. Also, I haven't seen tests showing that it doesn't leach anything toxic (although it doesn't contain BPA). Definitely worth investigating, though!

SPI CODE "7 - OTHER" - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Ingeo™ natural plastic and NatureWorks® biopolymer are trade names for polylactic acid or PLA, manufactured by NatureWorks LLC. NatureWorks® biopolymer is made from lactic acid, a naturally occurring compound found in food and the human body. Lactic acid is made from natural plant sugars (dextrose) by fermentation. The dextrose used to produce NatureWorks® biopolymer is processed at a Cargill wet mill facility from corn grown by farmers who live near Blair, Nebraska.

NatureWorks® biopolymer, when it leaves our factory gate, does not contain and has never contained, Bisphenol A (“BPA”). In addition, NatureWorks LLC does not use and has never used any amount of BPA during the manufacture of NatureWorks® biopolymer.

To facilitate correct plastic waste sorting of bottles and containers commonly found in the residential waste stream for the purpose of recycling, the SPI Resin Identification Symbol System was created by the Society of Plastics Industry (“SPI”) in 1988. SPI “chasing arrows” recycling codes typically appear on the bottom of a plastic packaging article and are used to indicate the type of plastic from which the article is made. At the time SPI codes one through six were developed, the overwhelming majority of plastic packaging was made from one of six resins: Polyethylene Teraphthalate (PET or PETE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS). SPI developed the code “7-OTHER” for articles made from plastics that did not fall within one of the six original resin categories.

As the plastic industry has evolved, many new plastics have been invented. The generic SPI code “7-OTHER” applies to a number of these new plastics, including NatureWorks® biopolymer, as well as other bioplastics and natural plastics.

Polycarbonate (PC) is a newer petroleum based plastic, which also is labeled with the generic SPI code of “7-Other”. We understand that polycarbonate may contain BPA. NatureWorks® biopolymer is a different material than polycarbonate. Many articles made from NatureWorks® biopolymer are also labeled by their manufacturers as “PLA” “NatureWorks”, “Ingeo” or “compostable”. These markings can be used to distinguish NatureWorks® biopolymer articles from those made of polycarbonate.

The SPI resin categories are intended to indicate resin content for the purpose of facilitating recycling and sorting efforts. They were never intended to be, and are not, an indicator of product safety. It is absolutely incorrect to assume that because a container is marked “7-Other”, the article is made of a particular material or includes a particular chemical such as BPA, because a number of different resins with very different properties and composition, fall within the catch-all category of “7-OTHER”. The SPI code “7-OTHER” should not be used to determine whether an article is safe or unsafe both because the code was not designed for that purpose and because the code cannot be used as a means to determine the particular type of plastic that was used to manufacture the article bearing the code.

What about using #7 plastic storage containers (such as Rubbermaid Carb X, which I assume are polycarbonate) for dry goods storage (flour, sugar, oats, etc.)? Will BPA leach into dry goods as well as liquids?

Also, I'm wondering about the following email I received from Bush's regarding BHA in their can linings, which I had asked about before finding this article...

"Thank you for contacting us regarding our products.

The lining of our cans is a food grade enamel coating. This coating is used as a standard throughout the canned food industry to protect the contents. While the lining does contain Bispenol-A at a very low level, the FDA has taken the position that such can coatings and sealing compound is safe and presents no risk to health."

Sincerely,
Teesee Moore
Consumer Relations Coordinator

My question is... does the FDA still maintain that BHA 'presents no risk to health' and can Bush's still make this claim?

My autistic daughter has been bottle fed for 6 years. She has about 5-7 bottles per day, which we have always warmed in the microwave and cleaned in a very hot dishwasher. I can only assume that she has recieved massive exposure to BPA's. (We use Avent bottles and, according to their website, they do contain BPA's).

So - what do I do now. I will switch out the bottles, but the damage is already done. Can I have her tested? Any way to reverse potential damage?

Thanks for your website. It has been extremely informative.

Very informative article! I would like to point out one bit of misinformation: You wrote: "As for pacifiers, while the hard plastic part may be made of polycarbonate plastic, that part doesn't go in baby's mouth -- so get a version with a silicone nipple, and don't worry too much about the rest." Many infants use the hard plastic part of their pacifier to teethe, my 6 month old daughter included. The Gerber Nuk Button pacifiers are made with polycarbonate plastic and at the rate my daughter chews on her paci, there was definitely reason to be concerned about all of the materials her pacifiers are made with.

What about the plastic used for Food Saver type meal sealers? And if the bags ARE toxic, would wrapping the food in freezer paper first, then sealing in the plastic food saver bags be safe? I am thinking that if the food does not actually touch the plastic, it is ok, but I am now wondering about off-gassing from the plastic into the food... Any thoughts on this?

I have reasonably given up combining food and plastics for a while now, except for the recent canned goods discovery -- we need to fix that asap, as some items only come canned in my store. However, I find the comment regarding 7-11 Slurpee cups amusing. Why be so concerned about the possible leaching of plastic chemicals in your drink when you are devouring synthetic materials in the slurpee contents? Those slurpees surely aren't neon orange by nature. It just seems like an example of focusing on one problem vs. viewing the overall picture. Sorry to offend.

Triple doses of BPA
cows, pigs, chickens - have they been subjected (tested)for BPA, fed with water bottles/containers - which heat up in direct sunlight? Is our meat source already contaminated before we even cook it up? Are we then geting a triple dose of BPA?

Health Canada is alarmed with cancer stats, maybe someone should take them to court. Earlier studies prove, they had this information back in 1997 and now their questioning it?

How long will the plastic container leaching? For example, I usually use the steamer to sterilise the milk bottles and also the bottle wamer. will the effect be only while heated or when the bottle is still hot? or the effect of heating the plastic is longer time i.e. after expose to heat, the chemical structure has changed and the leaching would continue. Well, I would like to determine if I should throw away all my milk bottle (avent that said it contains BPA) and buy new ones. OR stop heating and serving when hot is good enough.

I've asked this during previous discussions but haven't seen an asnwer yet: How does one safely dispose of Nalgene and other hard plastic bottles?

Referencing safe baby products...try the Soft Landing Blog and Z Recommends blogspot for great guides to BPA-free bottles, sippy cups, teethers, baby toys and more.

Z Recs even has a service where you can see BPA-free items on your mobile phone.

I had two earlier posts, one about the plastic containers used for Lean Cuisine microwave meals, and another about the plastic used in PUR water pitchers. Anyone know anything about these two items?

What about kids' colorful plastic dishes from Ikea? We use the bowls, plates, and cutlery. I always assumed Ikea tried to use safer materials, but it would be good to know for sure.

Thanks.

Hi,

I am wondering about "Acrylic Tumblers" from Target? Is acrylic the same as polycarbonate, or is it SAN plastic, or something else altogether? How safe is it?

I searched this site and others, and have not found any mention of it.

Thanks.

I've had dental work and I'm still nursing. Should I be concerned? I also use canned good (beans, soup, tomatoes) frequently.

How about plastics that have no number? What are they, or what should we asume they are? Some are common items, like the spoon I ate my soup with today or the big tub I store my clothes in. Thanks!

Annie, in regards to your question about dental work & nursing: the most exposure you're going to get from it is while the filling is being put in. BPA passes quickly through the body, so we're talking about a relatively minor exposure for your nursing infant.

You're already doing the right thing by nursing and being aware of the problem. Don't fret too much about this one-time exposure!

Any issue with cross-contamination? I regularly boil my daughter's pacifiers - some of which I've now found are BPA free, others of which contain BPA. I've tossed the ones that were manufactured with BPA, but I'm wondering if boiling the BPA-free pacis with the ones containing BPA contaiminated the BPA-free pacis (so, should I chuck the whole lot and start from scratch?). Thanks.

Hi,

I'd really like to know if it is known whether BPA leaches into dry goods, i.e. flour, sugar, dog food, etc. Should I stop using polycarbonate containers for dry food storage?

Thanks!

To Debra re bottle disposal. If you are in Canada, MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op)takes them at their stores. I don't know if any of the US outdoor stores are doing the same thing, but you could check it out if you are in the US.

Re - Starbucks. I had a response from the corporate office. Their cups which are plastic lined and have a #7 recycle sign do have BPA in them. Corporate office however, said they are within both Canada's and US's recommended levels and therefore feel there is no issue with the cups. They are not recalling them or promoting any exchange program.

That being said, I went to my local Starbucks and asked them if they would exchange my plastic lined cup with a stainless steel one due to my concern about the product and they were more than happy to exchange the product.

I have melamine set and it has the recycle #7 underneath it...does that mean its leaching BPA? are melamine a polycarbon? Also, are the plastic bags that frozen vegggies/fruits come in safe??? and is acrylic wear such as cups, soap dispensers safe to use without an leaching?

I have seen plastic sippy cups that say they are BPA Free, they are hard plastic and have a 7 on the bottom. Are they safe or not?

Thanks,
Crystal

Please help, my daughter had white composite fillings and sealants. Is BPA now leaching into her body?

Trader Joes cans do contain BPA. This I've learned from a spokesperson. Here was their response to my question:

Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. Realistically, BPA is an industry-wide issue for manufacturers putting products in cans, certain types of plastic containers, and even products like Nalgene reusable drinking bottles.

If you are concerned about BPA it may be best to avoid canned food. The matter is the subject of much debate and there's yet to be definitive information from the discussions.

As the affected manufacturing industries respond to the developments, we'll have a better sense of what our next steps will be.

Sincerely,
Amy
Trader Joe's
Customer Relations

I used dry infant formula bought in the large tubs for my daughter. Are those lined with BPA as well?

I was wondering if aseptic packaging is safer than canned food...or does it contain chemicals too?

Is there any danger in using the Braun electric plastic water kettles that heat water to boiling in just a few moments?

I use the Richard Simmons (Sultan) food steamer. The containers that hold the food are clear blue plastic with a 7 marking. Does this mean the steamer is not safe? And if it is polycarbonate, would the toxins get in the steam or is it just in direct contact with food? I just bought 2 of them. Looking at other steamers for food on line and rice cookers, many of them use clear plastic food containers for the steaming process. Heat is the worst thing apparently, so is this a pretty risky deal (using a food steamer with clear plastic trays)?

Does anyone know if the plastic drawers in refrigerators are made of polycarbonate? I often put my fruits and veggies in the drawers without any other bag/container. Is BPA leaching into my fruits and veggies?

Re Starbucks, on the inside of the lid it is a 5, it feels like the same plastic that is inside the cup.

RE ziploc & foodsaver bags, both of those (at least the normal, non-steamer or other novelty type) are made of polyethylene, and as such are safe. The foodsaver bags also have a layer of nylon on the outside, which I haven't heard anything about on here but I'd assume is safe as well? In any case, it's not in contact with your food so it's kinda irrelevant.

Is there any danger in using the medical droppers,such as those sold with infant's tylenol?

I'm not clear on the Starbucks cups. I'm concerned about their paper cups. Does anyone know if the lining of the cups contain BPA? That question goes for any line paper cups and/or to-go paper or plastic containers.

Another question, if one decides to forgo all plastic water bottles and install a filter, how can one be sure the plastic parts are PBA or PVC free. Is it still a better choice than plastic bottles?

I have seen this question asked, but havent seen an answer!! Are the deliverable 5 liter water bottles( Culligan) safe? Do they contain BPA? I was thinking since we pay the deposit that they are safe and recyclable?!?!
HELP!!!!!

I recently purchased a polycarbonate water bottle from a health food store, manufactured by Enviroproducts, Inc. I called the company and they informed me that in order for BPA to leach out, it has to be boiled, put in the dishwasher, microwaved, or scratched. She said that if I use it with regular temperature water and do not heat it up to a boiling point, the BPA will not leach out. Is this information untrue? Should I go out and buy stainless steel bottles to tote my water around?

Thanks!
Michele

Here's a response I received from Muir Glen regarding their canned tomatoes. Do you have access to primary research refuting her claims?

Thank you for contacting Muir Glen regarding bisphenol-A in food packaging. Bisphenol-A is a critical component of protective coatings used with metal food packaging and provides important quality and safety features to canned foods.

Scientific and government bodies worldwide have examined the scientific evidence and consistently have reached the conclusion that BPA is not a risk to human health. Recent examples include comprehensive risk assessments in Japan and Europe and a review by an independent panel of experts organized by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. The can coatings used in Muir Glen packaging comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for use in food contact applications. These coatings have long played an essential part in food preservation, helping to maintain wholesomeness, nutritional value, and product quality.

We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that all of the food ingredients and packaging materials we use are fully in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements and meet our high quality standards.

We will continue to monitor this situation. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us. Your questions and comments are always welcome. For more information on the safety of metal food containers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration press office may be contacted at (301) 436-2335.

Sincerely,

Allison Owen

Interesting, Amy -- notice how the rep doesn't say what the outcome of the studies in the EU and Japan are?

This link will take you to an EWG report citing 21 different studies that show BPA's toxic effects at low doses: http://www.ewg.org/node/20934

Our 5 year old son recently got diagnosed with a cavity in his molar, and we were recommended to get it filled with either amalgam or with the composite filling. I am not happy with either. What is your take on the dankgers of each?
Thanks, Christine

I'm wondering if I am correct in thinking that liquid, ready-to-eat formula packaged in glass bottle jars is a safe option for formula. I didn't see this option mentioned in the bpa guide. We only plan to use formula ocassionally but we'd still prefer the safest option. This seems like it would be safer than formula packaged in cans or plastic bottles. Thanks.

Christine, we unfortunately don't have a lot of specific information about dental sealants beyond what we said in this post, which was:
Dental fillings, dental sealants: These can be BPA-based. If you're concerned, ask your dentist to show you the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the filling materials and look for bisphenol A or bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and bisphenol A-dimethyl acrylate (Bis-DMA). A fourth chemical, bis-glycidyldimethacrylate (Bis-GMA), does not appear to give off BPA during use. Try to avoid having dental work done while pregnant or breastfeeding. Remember that BPA passes through your body quickly.

Amy, you're right -- ready-to-feed formula in glass jars is a safe option. It's pricey and hard to find, but it's much better than the stuff in cans.

Does anyone know if bis-gma is used in 'reverse osmosis' water filtration systems? I was looking at the whirlpool model WHER25. In general, is there a cause for concern with these filters and if so a manufacturer that produces a safe product?

Also, does anyone know of a brand of safe dental composite material that I can tell my dentist about? Thank you.

Paul

Whenever I eat food that has come out of a freezer ziploc bag I can taste what I am assuming are the chemicals that have seeped into the food from the lining of the bag. Also when ever I open up the bag a strong chemical odor is released. No one else I know can taste a difference in the food after it has been placed in a these bags but to me the chemical taste is so strong that I can't even eat it. I was wondering if these ziploc freezer bags really do release chemicals into the food and if so are these chemicals harmful?

Amanda

I also emailed Trader Joe's about the epoxy lining of their cans and whether it contains BPA. Here is what they replied with:

Hi Heather,

Trader Joe's canned fish is the only canned products that do not contain
BPA. Realistically, BPA is an industry-wide issue for manufacturers
putting products in cans, certain types of plastic containers, and even
products like Nalgene reusable drinking bottles.

If you are concerned about BPA it may be best to avoid canned food.

The matter is the subject of much debate and there's yet to be
definitive information from the discussions.

As the affected manufacturing industries respond to the developments,
we'll have a better sense of what our next steps will be.

Thank you,

Nicki K.
Customer Relations
Trader Joe's

All but the very first line is the same as what was sent to the other person, but it is interesting to note the new information about canned fish. Now we just have to go back to worrying about mercury and dolphins!

Is it safe to microwave Dixie coated paper plates?

I sent this info along to EWG the other day, but I will add to the discussion above about BPA:

-A brief review of all pantry items at home, organic, conventional, pet food, etc. revealed that EVERY can has a liner, tomato or otherwise. Some of them are obviously gray or white, but some are clear and even tinted to look like the typical inside of a can. I can't figure out if seltzer water cans have a liner or not, they scratch like metal. It may be that shorter-lived drink cans do not have a liner.

-I have been looking on web sites to see what manufacturers say about BPA and their cans. As stated above, Eden is the only one, organic or otherwise, that states they use a oleoresin liner on their beans. In their e-mail to me, they said they had been after Ball Corporation, their supplier, to develop a similar can for their tomatoes since 1999. They have known for years that this would eventually be an issue. Ball has not given the matter any real attention until now. The Eden rep told me she had just heard from Ball for the first time in 3 years that they were close to finding a better solution for the tomatoes. They are next on my list to contact.

-Ball sprays the seams of all of its cans with nylon and/or acrylic even before the epoxy liner. Just what is going on in these cans? For me, the BPA issue is just the first wave of questions I've had for years about plastics and food. My mom never used tupperware at home, and plastic wrap only when she had to. She never has liked it and I have always wondered to what degree it reacted with food.

-I challenged Eden to develop a product line without plastics and/or one whose packaging is fully recyclable. Even if you are not convinced about the leaching issues (and you better believe Ball knows what leaches in its containers, it says so on its web site, they test for this), why can we recycle only a small portion of the packaging even for organic food companies? Answer: they use the same container suppliers as everyone else. My community doesn't take Tetra Briks. What is the pseudo-foil that Cliff Bars, etc. are in? Why isn't it marked? So many things are wrapped in mystery plastic, why? Why does no one recycle #5 when everything is in it? If we can't recycle it, they we need to change it.

-Sigg bottles have a liner which the company says is plant-based, and they will not release what it is. Some have speculated at Treehugger and other places that they won't say what it is because it is plastic (BPA). The Sigg web site has a statement saying they will not release the contents of their liner for proprietary reasons. Are they selling it to food companies even as we speak? So again, the industry knew this would be an issue and have acted only when public comment made them do something.

-I still think we should package food in the things that are truly non-reactive and recyclable: metal (maybe lined with silicone or other glass?), glass, wood, ceramic, paper, wax paper. No petrochemicals in my food, save them for things like solar panels.

-I would like advice about how to present this information to family and friends, particularly my husband, who thinks this is a non-issue. He feels that even though the Canadian government recently classified BPA as a 'dangerous substance,' that I care way too much about it and that all of the other governments in the world think BPA and plastics are safe for food service. Thoughts? I know of vom Saal's work at U Missouri. My tack is change food supplies as best you can and we'll see how the issue progresses in the next few years. What is EWG's advice on that?

I emailed PUR today and they say that their water pitchers are made of polystyrene, with no BPA.

Like a few other posters, I am wondering contamination into dry foods. Has there been any research into this?

We've been trying to get away from canned foods and it's hard! We found chicken and salmon in the foil packets - but would those be lined with the same BPA based epoxy as a can? How frustrating this all is - I wish the canning companies would just get on board and use something else already!

I tried so hard to do the right thing by making baby food for my daughter, using BPA-free bottles (Born Free-they rock!!!), fabric toys, etc but pureed the baby food (some of it was still warm so it steamed up the plastic) in a food processor with BPA! I did this for about two months before I realized that i was overlooking a major issue. I hope, hope that the two months won't have a bad impact since I reduced her other areas of exposure.

Re: lids of glass jars. They do contain BPA however I have noticed that for most glass jarred foods (e.g., spaghetti sauce, peanut butter), the food is not usually in direct contact with the lid because there is some space at the top. It is CRITICAL not to store glass jars upside-down (a lot of people do this with natural nut butters to make them easier to stir) AND do not scrape off the bits of product adhered to the lid when you open it. I always rinse the lids off under the tap and then I can be sure I am not getting food that has been in contact with the BPA in the lid.

Re: pacifiers. My son uses the NUK pacifier. Both the latex one and the silicone ones do NOT contain BPA. I researched the heck out of this just to make sure, even contacting the company. Many other pacifier brands (e.g., Sassy, Avent, Mam) do contain BPA so be very careful there. The 100% silicone ones (like they give you in the hospital) are also BPA-free.

Re: sippy cups. Most sippy cups do not actually contain BPA. For example, one of the most popular brands of sippy cup made by Playtex are #2 plastic, as are many of the straw sippies. If the plastic cup is not transparent, it's probably okay, but check the bottom just to be sure. There is a lot of misinformation that "all" plastic sippy cups except the fancy new ones (e.g., Born Free) are made with BPA. Not true at all.

Re: food storage in kids' lunchboxes. We have just purchased the new Thermos FooGo stainless steel straw sippy cups and stainless steel thermoses for our elementary schoolers' lunch boxes. I can say that the thermoses keep the contents nicely hot (or cold), and are made just of stainless steel. The lids are made of polypropylene too, which is good. Also, when researching BPA-free lunchbox containers, I discovered that some popular crunchy/green brands do actually contain BPA. For example, SIGG bottles are lined with BPA even though they swear that it doesn't leach. SIGG also manufactures boxes to hold sandwiches in - these are made of #7 polycarbonate! Also, the popular Wrap-N-Mats sold at "green" websites (the reusable sandwich wraps) are made of plastic that contains BPA. Without a good way to wrap up a sandwich since both alternative sandwich containers/wraps have BPA in them, I have gone back to using regular wax paper secured with a piece of masking tape. It's not reusable, but I'm not poisoning my kids either.

I hope this helps.

I'd like to echo Kelly's question about BPA in foil packets of fish
and chicken hoping for a safe alternative to cans. Thanks for the
great work. -Morris

What are paper milk cartons lined with?

Susan, The traditional paper milk cartons on U.S. shelves are paperboard lined with multiple layers of a plastic called polyethylene. Here is a detailed description of the manufacturing process: http://tinyurl.com/66qqq9.

Aseptic packaging, the kind soy milk and European milk often come in, are different, made from paper, polyethylene, and aluminum, and are described here: http://tinyurl.com/5cxh8p

Dehydrator teflex sheets? Anybody know anything about those?

Ellen, Dehydrator teflex sheets are coated with Dupont's Teflon - thus the name "tef"lex. There is an article from Environmental News Service about Teflon, titled "Chemical used to make non-stick coatings harmful to health" here: http://www.ewg.org/node/26553.

Green feet sells a 16 oz glass jar with a cork cover. See their Glass Food Storage section.

From what I understand, having the number 7 in a recycle triangle does not mean that it contains BPA for sure. It means that it MIGHT contain BPA. Number 7 means that the product contains plastics or mixtures of plastics that do not fall into the previous 6 categories of plastics.
Nalgene and some other manufacturers of water bottles now make BPA FREE bottles and they still have the number 7 on them in the triangle, because the plastics do not fall into one of the first 6 categories. Number 7 is a miscellaneous collection of various combination of plastic chemicles. Some number 7's have BPA, some don't. The BPA ones are being phased out.
A number 7 in the triangle, means that it MIGHT contain BPA. It does not mean the it does for sure. I have a few of the new bottles that are BPA FREE. A couple of them from BIOS H2O, and a couple from NALGENE. They still have the number 7 in the triangle, but are marked BPA FREE in the moldings on the bottom.

What about the compound used on none coated cans ends for say Coffee, do they contain BPA.

Mark, Can you describe a bit more what can ends you're asking about? Thanks.

Also, for those interested in formula and BPA, our subsequent post on choosing and using formula might be helpful: http://bit.ly/79BW5K.

And our post on Eden Foods, which uses BPA-free cans in some of its products, is interesting re what the industry can do/is doing: http://bit.ly/8eHYIA.