Health Risks of Canned Foods: Understanding BPA and Making Better Choices

Canned foods are convenient and have a long shelf life, but their internal coatings pose potential health risks. The primary concern centers around Bisphenol A (BPA) and similar chemicals that can migrate from can linings into food. This article summarizes current scientific understanding of these risks and provides evidence-based recommendations for safer food storage.

👉 key take aways:

  • Avoid canned foods for items you consume frequently (like beans or tomatoes)
  • Choose dried alternatives for beans and legumes - cook in bulk and freeze portions
  • Prioritize fresh or frozen vegetables over canned ones
  • For occasional canned food use, choose brands that explicitly state “BPA-free” on their packaging (note: “BPA-free” products often use BPS or BPF alternatives, which may have similar or even stronger hormone-disrupting effects)
  • Avoid dented or damaged cans as they may have compromised linings

1. Understanding Can Linings and Their Risks

What’s Inside Your Can

  • Internal coatings typically consist of epoxy resins or synthetic polymers
  • These materials contain BPA as a key component in epoxy resin coatings
  • BPA and related compounds (e.g., BADGE) can migrate into food
  • Even “BPA-free” alternatives (BPS, BPF) show similar or greater estrogenic activity
  • Damage to cans (dents, scratches) compromises coating integrity and increases chemical migration

Chemical Migration Factors

  • 80-100% of total BPA migration occurs during initial can processing and sterilization
  • Migration levels vary by food type:
    • Acidic foods facilitate higher chemical migration
    • Fatty foods absorb more chemicals from linings
  • Storage conditions affect migration:
    • Higher temperatures increase chemical leaching
    • Extended storage time may affect migration rates
    • Can damage increases direct contact with metal surfaces

2. Health Impacts and Risks

Primary Concerns

  • Endocrine System Disruption:
    • Mimics estrogen in the body
    • Interferes with hormonal balance
    • Affects reproductive function
  • Developmental Effects:
    • Disrupts brain development during critical periods
    • Impacts synaptic plasticity
    • Affects cognitive functions and behavior
  • Epigenetic Changes:
    • Alters gene expression patterns
    • Effects may persist across generations
    • Impacts brain, immune, and reproductive development
  • Additional Health Risks:
    • Potential metabolic disruptions
    • Possible links to obesity and diabetes
    • Cardiovascular concerns

High-Risk Groups

  • Pregnant women and developing fetuses
  • Infants and young children
  • Regular consumers of canned products
  • Those with hormonal sensitivities
  • Populations with high cumulative exposure

3. Practical Solutions

Better Storage Alternatives

  • Glass containers (non-reactive, non-porous, temperature-resistant)
  • Stainless steel containers for portable storage
  • Silicon bags for freezer storage
  • Mason jars for bulk dry goods

Smart Shopping Choices

  • Prioritize fresh produce
  • Choose frozen vegetables over canned
  • Purchase dry beans and legumes in bulk
  • Select glass-packaged products when available
  • Consider BPA-NI (Bisphenol A Non-Intent) products, but be aware of alternative compounds

Food Preparation Tips

  1. Batch cooking strategy:

    • Cook large portions of beans/legumes
    • Store in glass containers
    • Freeze in portions
    • Thaw as needed

  2. Quick alternatives to canned foods:

    • Frozen vegetable mixes
    • Pre-soaked dried beans
    • Fresh tomatoes instead of canned
    • Home-made preserves in glass jars

References

  1. Goodson et al., 2004 : Migration of bisphenol A from can coatings—effects of damage, storage conditions and heating
  2. Munguía-López & Soto-Valdez, 2001 : Effect of heat processing and storage time on migration of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol A-diglycidyl ether (BADGE) to aqueous food simulant from Mexican can coatings
  3. Boda & Popa, 2013 : Study on the interaction between the food matrix and the metal food cans
  4. Eckardt et al., 2020 : Release and migration of cyclic polyester oligomers from bisphenol A non-intent polyester-phenol-coatings into food simulants and infant food
  5. Lestido-Cardama et al., 2022 : Food and beverage can coatings: A review on chemical analysis, migration, and risk assessment
  6. Brotons et al., 1995 : Xenoestrogens released from lacquer coatings in food cans
  7. Kundakovic & Champagne, 2011 : Epigenetic perspective on the developmental effects of bisphenol A
  8. Chen et al., 2016 : Bisphenol Analogues Other Than BPA: Environmental Occurrence, Human Exposure, and Toxicity-A Review
  9. Santoro et al., 2019 : Neuro-toxic and Reproductive Effects of BPA
  10. Pelch et al., 2019 : Characterization of Estrogenic and Androgenic Activities for Bisphenol A-like Chemicals
  11. Huang et al., 2012 : Bisphenol A (BPA) in China: A review of sources, environmental levels, and potential human health impacts