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A new survey released on Monday by the Consumers Union advocacy group found measurable levels of the chemical Bisphenol A in a number of name-brand foods. Published in the December 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, the study revealed that BPA, as the chemical is also known, was traced in almost all of nineteen canned foods tested. Used for years in clear plastic bottles and food-can liners, BPA has come under increasing scrutiny after high level exposure to it has been linked to serious health risks such as reproductive abnormalities, diabetes, and breast and prostate cancer. The Consumer Reports’ published survey found that canned soups and green beans held the highest levels of the chemical in question. Products labeled “Organic” and even those advertised as “BPA Free” also yielded traceable amounts. The Food and Drug Administration currently regulates safe exposure to BPA at 50 micrograms of the chemical per kilogram at bodyweight. Critics contend that the FDA assessment is based on outdated science from the 1980s, and Consumer Reports’ food-safety scientists have urged the government agency to significantly lower its recommended limits.

GUEST: Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Technical Policy at Consumers Union

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