Bisphenol A (BPA) is an antioxidant used in some plastic softeners (plasticisers). It has been widely criticised as being a possible contaminant of infant formula. BPA is used in containers made of polycarbonate (classed under the “catch-all” recycling  ‘7’ symbol on containers), and is present also in epoxy coatings and resins used to line metal food containers.

The major concern has been that BPA could leach from polycarbonate baby bottles into infant formula. BPA can also be present in PVC plastics (some symbol ‘3’ containers, not widely used for food), but not in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene or polypropylene products nor polystyrenes. 

A study from the University of Exeter has analysed data on US adults over 18 years of age collected during the NHANES surveys of 2003/4 (1455 adults) and 2005/6 (1493 adults). After correcting for a huge number of other variable factors, higher BPA levels in the urine were found to be associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease, angina, diabetes and raised liver enzyme levels.

The significance of these findings is as yet unclear but further investigation is urgently required and may result in an extension of the ban in many parts of the world on the use of BPA in baby bottles and infant food containers.

BPA has also been criticised for having oestrogen-like effects, mimicking the natural hormone in the body.

Source: Melzer D, et al. PLoS One 2010 Jan 13; 5(1): e8673.

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Originally posted in February 2010. everybody Nutrition News items are selected from a wide range of journals, bulletins and nutrition information sources worldwide and summarised by Professor John Birkbeck, Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University. The opinions contained herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of the publisher or sponsor. Copyright UBM Medica (NZ) Ltd.