Two out of three food cans tested have toxic BPA in the linings, even higher at Dollar Store chains
By Sarah Goodspeed — April 18, 2016
The Campaign for Healthier Solutions and partners released a new report in which nearly 200 food cans were tested for the toxic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), finding that two out of three cans tested have the chemical in their lining. Nearly 75% of all cans purchased from discount retailers Dollar Tree, Dollar General, 99 Cents Only and Family Dollar were found to contain BPA in their can lining. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemicals that negatively impacts our hormonal systems. Evidence suggests that BPA may contribute to many harmful health effects, including breast and prostate cancer, infertility, type-2 diabetes, obesity, asthma and attention deficit disorder.
Despite serving communities which are often already exposed to BPA and other toxic chemicals at higher rates, testing revealed that 83 percent of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar private-label cans (five out of six) and 64 percent of Dollar General private-label cans (nine out of 14) were coated with BPA-based epoxy resins.
”While some families are fortunate to have access and means to purchase fresh produce, many communities across America have no choice but to buy canned food lined with toxic BPA,” said Jose Bravo, coordinator of the Campaign for Healthier Solutions. “Some families, live in a food desert where fresh food simply isn’t available, or they can only afford the cheap food sold at dollar stores. These communities, people of color and low-income families are already exposed to toxic chemicals more frequently and at higher levels than the average American. The use of toxic BPA in canned foods means that families will sit down to a double serving of harmful chemicals.”
To read the full report, learn more and share news about this campaign, visit the Coming Clean website: bit.ly/25vfzRZ.
CEED supports the work of our allies at the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, part of Coming Clean, in removing harmful toxins from household products, especially those targeted at low-income communities who already experience higher rates of exposure to toxins. We continue to work for healthy solutions and environmental justice where our communities live, work and play.
— Sarah Goodspeed is the Policy Analyst at the Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy (CEED), an environmental justice policy and movement education organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. www.ceed.org