While people have been grumbling about the ineffectual nature and corporate interests of the FDA for decades, nothing could have pushed their lack of interest in the health of the American public to the forefront like their latest defense of BPA. Recently they discredited their own findings and are finally starting to come around to the fact that BPA may actually be dangerous.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, BPA, or Bisphenol A, is used widely as a preserving agent in canned foods. It also leeches out of plastic commonly used in food storage containers and bottles. Health Canada banned Bisphenol A from baby bottles earlier this year due to findings that it is a proven endocrine disruptor and can cause developmental delays in infants. Until the FDA comes around to what consumers already know, it is up to you to police your own BPA consumption.
Tips to reduce BPA:
– Avoid plastics and other containers with #7 and #3 in the recycling symbol.
– Never microwave food in #7 or #3 containers. Place the food on a plate and microwave it.
– Reduce or eliminate use of canned foods.
– Replace your plastic exercise water bottle with glass or steel.
– Replace baby bottles with glass or BPA-free baby bottles.
