The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finally reversed itself on the dangers of bisphenol-A (BPA), but if may be powerless to do anything to regulate the dangerous hormone-disrupting substance. Research shows that (BPA) may be more dangerous in food can liners than water bottles because the acids and fats in food encourage leaching. To date studies indicate that health effects of BPA include cancers of the brain, breasts, and testicles; early puberty; cardiovascular disease; lowered sperm counts; and asthma.

An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that when absorbed into the body either mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts the body’s normal functions. This disruption can happen through altering normal hormone levels, halting or stimulating the production of hormones, or changing the way hormones travel through the body, thus affecting the functions that these hormones control. Chemicals that are known human endocrine disruptors include diethylstilbesterol (the drug DES), dioxin, PCBs, DDT, and some other pesticides. Many chemicals, particularly pesticides and plasticizers, are suspected endocrine disruptors based on limited animal studies. -From the Natural Resources Defense Council

According to recently breaking story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , the FDA is in the twisted position of not being able to regulate something it now believes is detrimental to people’s health. It may take an act of Congress to force manufacturers to stop creating packaging for foods with BPA. The FDA explains why on its Web pages:

The Regulatory Framework for BPA
Current BPA food contact uses were approved under food additive regulations issued more than 40 years ago.  This regulatory structure limits the oversight and flexibility of FDA.  Once a food additive is approved, any manufacturer of food or food packaging may use the food additive in accordance with the regulation.  There is no requirement to notify FDA of that use. For example, today there exist hundreds of different formulations for BPA-containing epoxy linings, which have varying characteristics.  As currently regulated, manufacturers are not required to disclose to FDA the existence or nature of these formulations.  Furthermore, if FDA were to decide to revoke one or more approved uses, FDA would need to undertake what could be a lengthy process of rulemaking to accomplish this goal.

Are Any Canned Foods Safe?
Few companies proudly claim no BPA in can or packaging liners. Other companies have answered that their products contain liners that have PBA but claim it is not leaching into food. The jury is out. Canadian studies say it is leaching. Industry studies say it is not. Some studies have found BPA in the food in the cans. Research at the University of Cincinnati (June 2009) proposes that BPA may increase heart disease in women.

According to the FDA, “plastic containers have recycle codes on the bottom.  In general, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are very unlikely to contain BPA.  Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.”

No doubt as people react to this FDA announcement and more studies are released about the harmful effects of BPA, food manufacturers will look for alternatives. There are alternatives to the BPA liners, and so as consumers we should choose with our dollars and avoid the food manufacturers who blithely use BPA.

Organic Grace, a Web retailer for nontoxic products is tracking food manufacturers and has a growing list of the products by brand and the status of BPA in their can liners.

My own research has turned up the following:

A gold star for Eden Foods: Eden began using the BPA-free can lining for EDEN Organic Beans in 1999. All Eden Organic Beans are produced at AIB International ‘Superior Rated’ (the highest rating) kosher cannery, Meridian Foods in Indiana.

Products:
12 varieties of EDEN Organic Unseasoned Beans in 15 ounce cans
4 varieties of EDEN Organic Unseasoned Beans in 108 ounce cans
6 varieties of EDEN Organic Refried Beans in 15 and 16 ounce cans
5 varieties of EDEN Organic Seasoned Beans in 15 ounce cans
6 varieties of EDEN Organic Rice & Beans in 15 ounce cans

Eden Organic Canned Tomatoes are packed by a co-packer. They are packed in steel cans coated with a baked on r-enamel lining. Due to the acidity of tomatoes, (to prevent the can from rusting) the lining is epoxy based and contains a minute amount of bisphenol A. In extraction test on the r-enamel lined can bisphenol-A was found to be in the “non detectable” range. The test was based on a detection limit of 5 ppb (parts per billion).

Muir Glen: “Scientific and government bodies worldwide have examined the scientific evidence and consistently have reached the conclusion that BPA is not a risk to human health. Recent examples include comprehensive risk assessments in Japan and Europe and a review by an independent panel of experts organized by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. The can coatings used in Muir Glen packaging comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for use in food contact applications. These coatings have long played an essential part in food preservation, helping to maintain wholesomeness, nutritional value, and product quality. . . .We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that all of the food ingredients and packaging materials we use are fully in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements and meet our high quality standards. . . . We will continue to monitor this situation.” Write to Muir Glen and ask them to follow in the steps of Eden Foods, one of their largest competitors no doubt!

Tropicana: “We understand your concern with the plastic lining of cartons of orange juice due to new information about plastic. The liner contained within our fiberboard packages is a Low Density Polyethylene liner. Please be assured that our product packaging does not contain bisphenol A (BPA).” Write a thank you note and ask them to continue to look for plastic alternatives.

Hain/Celestial: “Tests have indicated that trace amounts of BPA may be present in these can coatings. The minute amounts detected are well below levels deemed to be of concern for public health according to the FDA.” Write to them!

Do not for a minute fool yourself into thinking that you can eliminate plastic from your life. That is a delusion, unless you are planning to retreat completely from civilization. If you even go through the mental exercise while gazing about your house, you will fall into a stupor or at the least severe depression.

You see what I mean? You have to laugh. Even a visit to a health food store turns ironic. Look around. With precious few exceptions, everything is packaged in PLASTIC!

Unless you adopt the most primitive lifestyle you can imagine, you will not be able to exorcise this substance that may ultimately be the downfall of human (and other animal life) on this planet. (Although the planet will continue satisfactorily without us—and our plastic!) However, if you are interested in trying the primitive route, you will probably want to read the blog of No Impact Man!

While ridding your life of plastic is an insurmountable task, there are options to mitigate your use of plastics. Some are simple ones to better safeguard your and your family’s health; others are more complex but will also protect the environment and its other inhabitants both locally and globally. You can do something as simple as eliminating plastic storage ware; as radical as retrofitting your whole house; as personal as throwing away your plastic water bottle; or as global as becoming an activist, writing letters, or sending plastic packaging back to manufacturers. And if you are looking for career or career change, you can investigate, explore, research, and create designs for alternatives. (Personally, I’m hoping for some kind of fusion of between a starch and glass.)

The problem is enormous and can easily fill myriad dissertations, books, magazine articles, and television and radio programs. These reports offer only a summary of the evidence (some of it controversial) and studies continue at a rapid pace, contradicting previous ones or uncovering new and disturbing information. As one of my sources wrote on his blog, “even the computer I am typing this on is made from plastic,” and so is mine, which is out gassing as I write!

This post is a result of a personal research effort to determine which plastics were safest to use and least damaging to the environment, both at the manufacturing end and the waste end. What I discovered was put eloquently by one of my contacts, “No plastic is the best plastic.” A radical opinion for sure, but after a little investigation, I believe that is the correct answer—impossible to achieve, but nevertheless correct.

Really Bad for Our Health
Besides the mounds of indestructible trash, the polluting of the land and oceans with plastic waste, the most dangerous result of the plastic use is the enormous impact of the endocrine disruptors released as a result of manufacture. So when you consider why you should not use plastic, consider not only your personal health, but the health of the entire planet and its inhabitants. Some of the chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastics include phthalates, BPA (bispehnol-A), cadmium, lead 42, and small quantities of alkylphenol and are all considered endocrine disruptors and estrogenic (mimic estrogen). (Alkylphenols are used as a process chemical in the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomers, in cloth washing detergents, and to stabilize plastics against ultraviolet light.) PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), which can also be created as by-products during the manufacture or disposal of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic.

How do these nasty chemicals get from the plastic into our bodies? Lots of ways, including during manufacturing through air and water pollution, and for those who work in the industry, direct contact.

The most common way is through the beverages we drink (including water) and the food we eat. Although the American Chemistry Council tells us bluntly and with little explanation that the manufacturing of plastic results is an inert product, researches have come to discover that the polymerization process is not perfect.

“These toxic man-made chemicals have been shown to be accumulating in the bodies of both humans and in the animals we eat. Hormones act in single digit parts per trillion (ppt) concentrations, and have an effect on virtually every bodily function. The effects of disrupting the normal activities of hormones can be devastating and permanent. The industry answer to the warnings of environmentalists is that the toxic chemicals that make up plastics do not come out. Once you are aware of the fact that those toxicants always migrate from all plastics, then they change their tune and say that it happens at extremely low levels that cause no harm, and that the migration happens well below the regulatory limits. On that point they are mostly right, but they wrote the regulations and eased them into law through political contributions” (Paul Goettlich/mindfully.org, November 29, 2004)

What you can do now? If you just want the basics for good health, here’s a quick list:

1. Keep food and beverages, especially those that contain acid or fat, away from plastic. Never put anything hot in plastic.
2. Do not reuse plastic bottles or containers unless they are specifically made for reuse (e.g., plastic water bottles are not).
3. Stop buying plastic containers or food that comes in plastic containers. Use re-usable shopping bags—for everything, not just groceries.
4. Tell retailers and grocery stores that as a customer, you want them to use less plastic and to find alternatives to plastic packaging.

Paper or plastic (HDPE)?
Remember that old question at the grocery store? No one asks anymore. And you may not be able to find stores that even offer paper, although paper may be the better choice. The pros and cons are about equal. The manufacturing of both paper and plastic waste natural resources and cause significant pollution.

The correct answer, though, is neither. Take your own reusable bag (and wash it often, especially if you carry groceries in it).

Food Storage: A Nightmare without Plastic?
What did our mothers and grandmothers do without the “zip-lock” bags? Ask. Think about it. Read up on kitchens pre-1930.

Collect glass jars and re-use them. Check out bamboo containers. Line your plastic containers with cloth, foil, or waxed paper.

Plastic in the freezer Remember freezer paper? If you want to give up keeping food in plastic but you don’t know what to do with all those plastic containers you have saved for that purpose and you don’t want glass in the freezer (it gets brittle), consider continuing to use them by lining them with freezer paper (beware some new freezer paper is lined with plastic!), waxed paper, or aluminum foil.

Aluminum and stainless steel Stainless steel and aluminum containers are becoming popular. Aluminum foil remains one of the healthiest and environmentally sustainable products for food storage. Aluminum bake ware has been shown not to be the cause of Alzheimer’s, and the transference of aluminum to food during cooking has been disproved. However, the absorption of aluminum from antacids and antiperspirants continues to be suspect. Aluminum foil is considered eco-friendly as it is can be made from recycled aluminum packaging, and some aluminum containers can be recycled.

What else can you freeze food in? Glass, but it becomes brittle and not a good idea if you have small children. Cloth bags may work short term, but will not effectively protect foods from freezer burn–and you need to find cloth without retardants or other chemicals that might leach into food.

For an assortment of plastic food storage alternatives, visit mindfully.org and Fake Plastic Fish.

More to come on plastics in our lives! Share your food storage ideas with me!

Check back for the next installments including information about plastic liners in canned foods, decoding the plastic numbers and what they mean, lots about the latest findings on bisphenol-A (BPA), what you should know about phthalates, and news about “new” plastics that are just as harmful as existing plastics.

Continue reading this post…

Dear Senators and Congresspersons:

Insurance companies, PHARMA, and Joe Lieberman seem to be running the government these days. Only a small number of people elected Lieberman, and NO ONE elected the insurance companies and PHARMA, so why do they have such sway?

Many people have adequate insurance in this country, but most people do not. Or if they have adequate insurance it is completely tied to a place of employment. Lose your job, lose your coverage. Such a draconian system also stifles entrepreneurship, which would be good for the economy.

The time of the heavy-handed, profit driven insurance, medical, and pharmaceutical companies is over. It is time to champion the rights of all Americans, not just the wealthy ones.

Please restore the public option, and please hold insurance companies accountable for their abusive practices and outrageous pricing. In addition set guidelines to make health care efficient and safe. Canada and Europe manage to do this, why can’t America?