Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to make Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) epoxy resins and hard plastic containers. Its use in the food industry is common, as BADGE epoxy resins are often coated on the inside of cans to prevent direct contact between the food and the metal. These compounds can migrate into food, particularly at elevated temperatures (for example, in hot-filled or heat-processed canned foods). To prevent these adverse health effects of these componds, some manufacturers have turned to BPA alternatives such as Bisphenol F (BPF) and Bisphenol S (BPS). Limited data is available concerning the use of BPA alternatives in canned and bottled foods, therefore they were included in this survey.
A total of 381 samples were collected from retail stores in 6 cities across Canada. The samples collected included coconut milk, pie filling, and tomato-based sauces stored in cans, as well as infant formulas stored in cans and plastic containers. BPA was detected in 43% of the survey samples and BADGE was detected in 12%. No samples had detected levels of BPF or BPS.