Washington, July 10 - As part of its research commitment on bisphenol A (BPA), Health Canada released yesterday the results of studies investigating BPA exposure levels in baby food in glass jars with metal lids, powdered infant formula, and bottled water.
The results from these three government studies provide definitive confirmation that baby food products packaged in glass jars with metal lids, powdered infant formula, and bottled water do not pose a health risk. Researchers found that all levels of BPA found in tested products were exceedingly low and all are well below the level established as safe for consumers by the Canadian government. The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. (NAMPA) welcomes the latest Canadian study, noting that these findings confirm industry’s own research that shows BPA levels in food containers are negligible.
In issuing the final reports, Canadian officials concluded that the assessments of baby food, powdered infant formula, and bottled water all confirmed that current dietary exposure is “not expected to pose a health risk to the general population, including infants and newborns.” Moreover, exposure to BPA through consumption of bottled water or jarred food would be “extremely low” and far below the migration limit set by Health Canada.
“Once again, a leading government agency has overwhelmingly confirmed that BPA in food packaging is safe,” said Dr. John M. Rost, NAMPA Chairman. “NAMPA urges those legislative entities being pressured to pass bans on BPA use in food packaging to review carefully the report’s findings and the critical role of BPA in food safety.”
“Metal lids are the best way to protect against microbiological contamination in glass jars and ensure that the foods we serve our children are as safe as possible. The metal lid is a critical component because it can withstand the extremely high temperatures needed for sterilization and creates a tamper-proof seal,” said Dr. Rost. “Likewise, the metal packaging used for powdered infant formula is specifically designed to protect the food content. These packaging technologies have been used safely for more than 50 years.”
Significant technological advancements in science have now made it possible to detect extremely low levels of BPA. For these studies, the detection limits were 0.18 nanograms/gram or 0.18 parts per billion for baby food jars, 1.0 nanograms/gram for powdered infant formula, and 0.5 micrograms/liter for bottled water, all of which are hundreds of times lower than the consumer levels set by Canada.
The levels seen in the Health Canada survey also are well below the maximum acceptable dose and tolerable daily intake for BPA established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Scientific authorities around the world, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, EFSA, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, and Japan’s National Institute for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, as well as food safety authorities in Australia and New Zealand, have considered the comprehensive body of knowledge regarding BPA, and all have affirmed its safe use in food and beverage applications.
About NAMPA
The North American Metal Packaging Alliance, Inc. and its members support sound science and trust the scientific review process that has protected our food supply for decades.