Is Your Food Poisoning You?

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On Jan. 15, the Food and Drug Administration announced "some concern" about the plastic compound bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been shown to negatively affect the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.

The FDA had previously concluded that low levels of BPA were safe, despite mounting evidence that the chemical could cause havoc in the human endocrine system. What's more, researchers now say that adults may be at risk, too: In a recent study of American men and women, researchers at the University of Exeter in England found that adults with the highest levels of BPA in their urine were more than twice as likely to suffer from coronary heart disease as those with the lowest levels.

But where does BPA come from, and how do you avoid it? The authors of The New American Diet, a book about avoiding and reversing the effects of chemicals like BPA, list these foods among the top sources of the chemical.

Energy drinks

The most common way for BPA to enter the body is by leaching into food and beverages from the plastic lining of canned foods and beverages. In a study of soft drinks done by Health Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the National Institutes of Health, Rock Star energy drink was found to have 4.5 micrograms per liter of BPA. By comparison, Coke has about 0.18 mcg.

Baby food

Although it comes in jars, a lot of baby food is contaminated by BPA because of the plastic resin that lines the metal jar tops. In another Health Canada survey, levels of BPA were found in almost all baby foods tested, with the highest levels in strained vegetables and vegetables mixed with beef, chicken, or turkey.

Canned tomatoes and pastas

Because of their high acidic content, tomatoes are highly effective at leaching BPA from plastic liners. Tomatoes and canned ravioli are among the worst offenders, according to a study by the Environmental Working Group.

Canned tuna

Endocrine disruptors—BPA is one—are stored in fat. So the fat content in canned tuna makes it a prime source for BPA exposure. As a solution, try tuna packed in plastic pouches instead—the pouches do not contain BPA.

Beer

Specifically, beer in cans. In this case, switching to bottled beer can dramatically reduce exposure.

Reusable water bottles

While some concern has been raised about bottled water, hard-plastic bottles that are commonly used by gym-goers and outdoor types present a more significant worry. The hard plastic bottles are rich in BPA, which can leach into their contents, especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. Never put reusable water bottles in direct sun or in a dishwasher.

Liquid infant formula

Almost all brands of infant formula have BPA in their packaging. However, liquid formula contains between eight and 20 times more BPA than powdered formula, because the fatty liquid draws the chemical out of the packaging more effectively than powder does.

Canned fruit and fruit juices

Because of their acidic content, fruit and fruit juices in cans carry high levels of BPA.

Soup

The longer a food is stored in a can, the more time it has to draw BPA out of the packaging. Canned soup is among the foods with the highest levels of the chemical.

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Provided by Men's Health