Report: Big Names Still Peddling Canned Food With Toxic Chemical

(RTTNews) - The use of toxic chemical Bisphenol A or BPA is still widespread in food cans sold by Canadian and U.S. retailers, according to a new report. This is despite the push in recent years to remove BPA from food packaging.

The report, titled "Buyer Beware," was prepared by several environmental and health groups in North America, including Breast Cancer Fund, Campaign for Healthier Solutions, Clean Production Action, Ecology Center and the Environmental Defence in Canada.

According to the report, the endocrine-disrupting BPA continues to be widely present in the lining of many food cans sold by canned food manufacturers.

About 67 percent of the cans tested or, 129 cans out of 192, contained BPA-based epoxy in the body and/or the lid of the cans. The 192 cans contained vegetables, fruits, soups, broth, gravy, milk or beans.

The report noted that grocery stores, big box retailers and dollar stores are not doing enough to eliminate and safely replace BPA in their canned food, adding that its findings were alarming.

BPA is a toxic, endocrine-disrupting chemical that negatively impacts hormonal systems, contributing to a host of harmful health effects. Scientific studies have linked extremely small amounts of BPA to an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer, infertility, type-2 diabetes, obesity, asthma, and behavioral changes.

According to the report, all the cans of Campbell Soup Co. that were tested, or 15 out of 15, contained BPA-based epoxy, even though the company claims to be making significant progress in its transition away from BPA.

71 percent of Del Monte cans, or 10 out of 14, tested positive for BPA-based epoxy resins. 50 percent of sampled General Mills Inc. cans, or 6 out of 12, also tested positive for BPA.

Although fewer cans were tested for large companies, all 3 cans from McCormick & Co. Inc. as well as Nestlé S.A. contained BPA-based epoxy. BPA was also found in private-label cans sold at both Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Meanwhile, Amy's Kitchen, Annie's Homegrown - recently acquired by General Mills, Hain Celestial Group and ConAgra have fully transitioned away from the use of BPA.

Eden Foods has reported eliminating the use of BPA-based epoxy liners in 95 percent of its canned foods and stated that it is actively looking for alternatives, according to the report.