Eating canned soup 'poses a chemical risk'

| Thursday November 24, 2011 00:00

Tests on 75 volunteers revealed the compound bisphenol A (BPA) was readily ingested and detected in large amounts in the urine, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports. Past studies have linked high BPA levels with adverse health effects. In the EU BPA is used in cans as a coating to prevent rusting and keep food fresh. Some soft drink cans and bottles also contain BPA.

Dr Jenny Carwile, lead author of the study at the Harvard School of Public Health, said: 'We've known for a while that drinking beverages stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body.'

Her team asked the volunteers to eat either a freshly made 12oz serving of vegetarian soup or one out of a can once a day for five days. After a weekend of rest, the groups switched over so. Tests on their urine revealed detectable BPA in 77 percent of samples after fresh soup consumption and 100 percent of samples after canned soup consumption.

A serving of tinned soup a day appeared to increase BPA 20-fold. The average concentration of BPA was 1.1 _g/L after fresh soup consumption compared to and 20.8 _g/L after eating soup from a tin. The researchers say levels like these are 'among the most extreme reported in a non-occupational setting'. The study did not look at what the health impact of this might be. Fellow researcher Karin Michels said: 'The magnitude of the rise in urinary BPA after just one serving of soup was unexpected and may be of concern among individuals who regularly consume foods from cans or drink several canned beverages daily. It may be advisable for manufacturers to consider eliminating BPA from can linings.'

The UK's Food Standards Agency said: 'Our current advice is that BPA from food contact materials does not represent a risk to consumers.' (BBC)