Why is There BPA in My Can of Organic Soup?

When I purchase organic products, I expect them to contain nothing but chemical-free, all-natural foods. So you can imagine my surprise when I read a recent report from the National Workgroup for Safe Markets which showed that canned goods, including those with organic labels, contained Bisphenol A (BPA). For those of you unfamiliar with BPA, it's a hormone-disrupting chemical that's been linked to a host of health problems like cancers, diabetes, and behavioral abnormalities, particularly when exposure occurs during development. Not exactly the seasoning I expect to find in my bowl of split pea.

To analyze BPA levels in canned goods, the group tested 50 cans from across the US and Canada in an FDA-certified lab. Researchers found that nearly all canned food tested showed levels of BPA, with an average of each can containing 77 parts per billion of the chemical. Cans with the highest BPA levels included Delmonte French Style Green Beans, Great Value Sweet Peas, Healthy Choice Chicken Soup, and 365 and Healthy Valley organic soups (gasp!). While Delmonte raked in the highest BPA levels with 1,140 parts ber billion, researchers say there was a fair amount of variation both within brands and across different brands.

So I'm sure you're still wondering why BPA wound up in certified organic canned goods. Well, while that organic label applies to all the ingredients that go into a can, it doesn't apply to the can itself. Can linings leach BPA into the food inside, which is why the chemical was found so ubiquitously throughout a variety of canned goods.

But before you freak out about the lack of chemical-free foods, take a breath. There are options. For one, fresh foods (particularly produce) often come sans packaging. Plus, frozen foods or goods packaged in boxes and pouches were found to contain significantly lower to completely undetectable levels of BPA. Or, try purchasing items that come in glass containers.

Still, consumers should feel safe that their food comes without harmful chemicals regardless of the container it comes in. It's up to the government to enact safety laws that prohibit toxins in food packaging. With a push from consumers and groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which is currently working to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, hopefully I can soon savor my soup without worrying about hormone-disrupting chemicals.

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