BPA levels soar after eating canned soup: Study

(CBS) Talk about stirring up controversy. A new study shows that the urine of people who consume canned soup can contain surprisingly high levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting compound linked to health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

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People who consumed one serving of canned soup a day for five days had a more than 1,000 percent increase in urinary BPA over people who consumed fresh soup for five days, the study showed.

"We've known for a while that drinking beverages that have been stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body," study author Jenny Carwile, a doctoral student at Harvard School of Public Health, said in a written statement. "This study suggests that canned foods may be an even greater concern, especially given their wide use."

BPA is used in the linings of metal food and beverage cans as well as in certain plastic bottles and dental sealants.

Seventy-five volunteers were recruited for the study. Every day for five days, one group consumed 12 ounces of canned vegetarian soup and another consumed 12 ounces of fresh vegetarian soup. After a two-day "washout period," the groups switched soups and spent another five days slurping away.

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The researchers found that urine samples collected from the canned soup group spiked 1,221 percent over BPA levels over samples collected from the fresh soup group.

The study used Progresso brand canned soup, but the researchers told WebMD that "it's not about the brand of soup or canned soup, it is about the cans."

The researchers noted that the high levels of BPA might be transient and called for more research - but said that the time may have come to get BPA out of cans. As study author Karin Michels, associate professor in the school's department of epidemiology, put it in the statement, "It may be advisable for manufacturers to consider eliminating BPA from can linings."

A spokesman for General Mills, the company that makes Progresso soups, wasn't buying it.

"Scientific and governmental bodies worldwide have examined the science and concluded that the weight of evidence support the safety of BPA, including comprehensive risk assessments in Japan and in the European Union," Kirstie Foster, told Bloomberg Businessweek in an email.

A member of a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. echoed those sentiments. Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, told WebMD that the study "does nothing to substantiate claims that trace levels of BPA - even from daily canned soup consumption - have any effect on health."

The study was published online Nov. 21 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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BPA: 7 secret sources

[zerses]

This story needs to be updated.

BPA should be out of every single can in America or we should do away with cans altogether and go back to glass.

America, Prego and Ragu know one thing - tomatoes eat through plastic. If spaghetti sauce companies have it figured out WHY DON'T WE?

America should be demanding ALL toxic (!) substances be removed from our food supply.

[stlwest]

Unfortunately it's not just soup, it is a lot of canned goods and soda. The industry says the FDA hasn't banned it so they won't proactively protect thier customers, why, well they must feel thier legal liability is low and they don't want to develop an alternate or feel doing so would be too costly. Eden foods did however make a bold move to BPA free for an increased cost of 14% per can. The FDA, well they are controlled by the companies and the companies unfortunately don't seem to care about thier reputations. Procter and Gamble with your life.

[endrepubs]

Common sense says to stay away from cans and use glass, paper or ceramic containers whenever possible. Don't ever microwave food in plastic containers as the heat releases these bad chemicials. Freezing is bad too. Need to go back to some older ways of cooking ans storing food. Meets used to be wrapped in paper and baby bottles were glass.

[rwsmith29456]

How about fix the cans please because I LOVE soup.

[webdepot]

My first job in the 50's was at a super market.. I remember clearly many of the veggies and fruits came in glass jars (cleanup in aisle 6) although they did have a metal cover..
I guess tin was cheaper... like some here have stated, it's all about the profit..
Anyone notice what used to be a half gallon of ice cream is now 1.5 qts. for the same price.

[pdx_user]

Add me to the list of people who will no longer buy canned food. I don't care if I have to soak beans overnight and boil them for hours, that's what I'm going to do instead of buying a can of beans.

[Jaylah54]

Actually, just buy a pressure cooker. Yes, they cost a bit of money, but it's a one-time expense, and you can cook a lot more than just beans in them.

[Exploitationist]

And why is BPA legal?

[RORY6284]

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $.....any more questions??

[christia0820]

BPA is just one of many toxic chemicals the FDA calls "safe". Forget the politics, if you don't buy the crap they will get the message. There is only one company that is BPA free in canned foods - demand more from your food supply!!

http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=178

[Jaylah54]

This rather does seem like a no-brainer to me. If we know that a substance is harmful, why bother debating "how much"?

If it's harmful, stop using it.

[daguroo]

Why is a conservative think tank ( an oxymoron) defending BPA. What corporation lobby bought them? It is plainly stupid to allow BPA in food and beverage containers. baby bottles, and children's toys. There is melamine in some of these can liners, also. BPA is considered a toxic contaminant in Canada and is banned from many products in the European Union. San Francisco has banned it. I guess our political leaders believe corporate profit is more important then our children's health.