Companies Ditch Bisphenol-A, but Coca-Cola Refuses

The world can't seem to make up its mind about bisphenol-A (BPA). While some countries claim the hormone-disrupting chemical is totally toxic, others maintain that it poses no risk to human health. Some U.S. states and cities ban BPA, but no federal legislation limits its use. Canada just listed the chemical as a "toxic substance," while Europe touts BPA's safety. This week, the World Health Organization is holding a conference in Ottawa to try to establish a global consensus on BPA's safety — or lack thereof.

While governments continue to hem and haw over BPA's use, some companies are taking matters into their own hands. Concerned consumers — especially pregnant women and parents with young children — have been asking food producers to err on the side of caution and limit the chemical's use. Some major manufacturers are responding positively. Nestle says it will phase BPA out of its U.S. products within the next three years, while General Mills already eliminated the chemical from its Muir Glen line of products. H.J. Heinz and Hain Celestial plan to remove BPA from some of their products, and Campbell's Soup says it is actively exploring BPA-free packaging.

As some food producers give in to consumer pressure, others continue to cling to their potentially toxic containers. One of the most notoriously pro-BPA companies is Coca-Cola. The corporation uses the hormone disruptor to line its aluminum cans. "The consensus repeatedly stated among regulatory agencies is that current levels of exposure to BPA through food and beverage packaging do not pose a health risk to the general population," a Coca-Cola spokesperson told The Independent.

Nice try, Coke, but just because regulatory agencies fail to limit BPA's use doesn't mean the chemical is safe. In fact, the studies spotlighting the chemical's potential risks are almost as abundant as, well, Coke vending machines. BPA's been linked to cardiovascular disease, poor sperm quality, diabetes, and early-onset puberty in people. In lab animals, scientists found that the hormone-disrupting chemical triggered breast and prostate cancer.

Not only is BPA potentially harmful, it's completely ubiquitous. The chemical appears throughout our food supply in plastic packaging, bottles, and canned foods and beverages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 90 percent of Americans show levels of BPA in their urine.

BPA-free packaging already exists, and several companies are working on developing other alternatives, too. With BPA becoming more and more of a health concern, companies like Coca-Cola must put consumer safety above the desire to maintain the status quo. Sign our petition asking Coca-Cola to switch its soft drinks over to BPA-free cans.

Photo credit: vwb5 via Flickr