Health Canada Responds To Concerns Raised About Bisphenol A In Canned Food

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 03 Jun 2008 - 16:00 PDT

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Health Canada has been made aware of testing results published by some media outlets related to the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in canned foods.

None of the levels found in the testing exceed current Health Canada guidelines. A preliminary examination of the results show that levels of BPA reported as migrating from canned food sources are very low, in the range of parts per billion (one billionth gram in a gram of food) and are consistent with levels of BPA reported in canned foods sold worldwide. The reported values are within the range of those reported in Health Canada's 2008 screening assessment of bisphenol A, which primarily focused on its impacts on newborns and infants up to 18 months of age, however health risks for Canadians of all ages were considered in this assessment.

To put this into perspective, the average Canadian would need to consume several hundred cans of food per day to reach the tolerable level established by Health Canada. A tolerable daily intake is how much of a substance can be taken in on a daily basis over a lifetime without appreciable health risk. This tolerable intake level was recently reviewed by Health Canada scientists as part of the evaluation of BPA under the government's Chemicals Management Plan in 2008. This tolerable intake level is consistent with levels identified by other food regulatory agencies such as the European Food Safety Authority in their recent review of bisphenol A.

In their assessment published in April 2008, Health Canada scientists adopted a precautionary approach in identifying that newborns and young infants may be more sensitive to BPA. Therefore, measures were recommended to ensure that they are exposed to the lowest levels of BPA possible.

Based on the scientific evidence available to date, Health Canada does not recommend that consumers make any changes to their dietary habits as a result of the occurrence of trace levels of BPA in canned foods. Consumers should feel confident that canned foods are safe and can continue to be part of a balanced diet. Canadians are encouraged to eat a variety of foods as recommended by Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide.

Health Canada will continue to research the effects of bisphenol A on human health to ensure that all recommended actions are based on sound science and that the health of Canadians is protected. Health Canada will continue to work with the food packaging industry and infant formula manufacturers to further reduce levels of bisphenol A in products intended for newborns and infants, and to find alternatives.

Health Canada

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