Elevated BPA Levels Observed With Consumption of Canned Soups: Research
Key Takeaways:
- A recent study has found that consistent consumption of canned soup could lead to increased levels of bisphenol A (BPA).
- BPA is a chemical that disrupts the endocrine system with potential associations with diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease in humans.
- The study revealed that individuals who consumed canned soup daily had a 1,200 percent increase in BPA compared to those consuming fresh soup.
- This research indicates that canned goods could potentially pose a higher risk of BPA exposure than consuming drinks stored in certain types of plastics.
- There is a call to action for manufacturers to exclude BPA from food and drink can linings due to the health implications.
A recent study unveils that consistent intake of canned soup could lead to increased levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that has been tied to several detrimental health effects.
The researchers speculated that this increase might only be provisional and suggested more investigation is necessary to further understand this link.
Bisphenol A’s Potential Impact
BPA is a chemical reagent that disrupts the endocrine system. It is frequently used in polycarbonate bottles, metal food and beverage can linings, and dental composites and sealants. It has alarming associations with diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease in human beings and has demonstrated harmful effects on reproductive growth in animals.
The Study Method
The study, conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, comprised of two groups with 75 volunteers. One group consumed a 12-ounce serving of canned vegetarian soup each day for five days whereas the other group had the same portion of fresh vegetarian soup each day for five days. Following these five days, both groups swapped their soup type for another five days.
The unexpected findings showed that those who consumed canned soup daily had a staggering 1,200 percent increase in BPA, as opposed to those consuming fresh soup.
The Study Publication
This enlightening research was published on 22nd Nov online and appeared in the 23rd Nov print issue of the renowned Journal of the American Medical Association.
Understanding BPA Exposure
“We have established links between high BPA levels and adverse health repercussions in the past. Our aim was to discover how people are being exposed to BPA. We have speculated that consuming drinks stored in certain types of tough plastics can boost BPA amounts in the human body. This study suggests that the ingestion of canned goods may pose an even greater risk, given their broad-based use,” mentioned the research lead author Jenny Carwile from the epidemiology department of the Harvard School of Public Health.
Jenny Carwile and her team further stated that the urinary BPA concentration elevation might be temporary and more research is required to determine its duration.
A wake-up call for Change
Karin Michels, the senior author and an associate professor in the epidemiology department asserts, “The substantial rise in urinary BPA we observed after a single soup serving was unexpected and may concern individuals who regularly consume food and drinks from cans. Manufacturers should seriously contemplate excluding BPA from can linings.”
For More Knowledge
To learn more about BPA, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s dedicated page on BPA.
