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According to the CDC, 93% of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their blood. But what does BPA-free mean when you see it on a label? Every time you shop for plastic products like Tupperware and water bottles, you’re faced with this message. 

I think a lot of people see “BPA-free” as the start and end of the toxin risk in these products. But are BPA-free products actually safer? Or are we just swapping one problem for another? 

We now have a lot of scientific data that shows a correlation between BPAs and several health issues. Tune in to this episode to learn more about what you can do to protect your family against it because unfortunately, it’s not as straightforward as just reading a label. 

In this episode, we’re chatting about: 

• What is BPA and why is it bad
• Why they are found in plastic products 
• The health risks associated with BPA products 
• Global regulations and BPA-free marketing
• How to find safer alternatives 

What is BPA?

BPA belongs to a larger class of chemicals called bisphenols. There are a lot of bisphenols out there, but BPA is the most widely known and the one that has been studied the longest. 

It was invented in the 1890s and it was being considered by the pharmaceutical industry as a synthetic estrogen. We’ve known for well over a hundred years that this ingredient/chemical is a hormone disruptor and endocrine disruptor. We have a lot of scientific data that shows it results and contributes to:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Metabolic disorders
• Diabetes
• Childhood asthma
• Fertility issues
• Reduced sperm count
• Recurrent miscarriages
• Birth defects
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• And so much more

This chemical is bad news. 

In the 1950s, it was discovered that it made plastic sturdier. Once companies realized this, they started using it in their plastics, particularly a plastic called polycarbonate, a durable plastic. These are the plastics that you find in water bottles, blenders, food storage containers, food processors, etc. 

It didn’t stop there, though. Companies realized they could line metal cans for things like soups and sodas with BPA, and it would prevent corrosion. It’s also used in thermal paper, like receipts, tickets, tags, and labels. The use of BPAs exploded and went into practically everything.

BPA in Your Blood

After being used for decades, the CDC claims 93% of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their blood. So what does that mean? What’s the big deal that we have BPA in our blood? 

It gets in your blood because it’s in plastic we use for food. We eat out of it, we blend things with it, and we drink water out of it. Some of that BPA gets leached out of the plastic and ends up in our food, drinks, and water. Things that are fatty or acidic tend to draw those chemicals out even more, and then we consume them.

What Does BPA-Free Mean?

If a plastic product is BPA-free, what does that mean? What’s in it? Well, it may not be BPA, but there is a high likelihood it’s a different kind of bisphenol. 

You’ll see things like BPS or BPF. They’re pretty much the same as BPA but with a tiny tweak. This is what we call a regrettable substitution. It happens when there is a very well-known problematic chemical out there. Companies will switch to another alternative ingredient very similar to the concerning one because there isn’t a lot of data or outcry about it. Sadly, some of those other bisphenols are even worse and have more health implications than BPA. 

If you’re buying something that says it’s BPA-free, but it has one of those other bisphenols in it, then the thing you’re buying is not safe. My personal opinion is that BPA-free is just a crappy marketing term to get you to buy their plastics.

Toxin-Free Alternatives to BPA

So what can you shop for instead? Having things like water bottles, baby bottles, and blenders in your house is sometimes non-negotiable for people. These are things that we need to use. We need food storage containers. 

Let me tell you what I have in my home. When it comes to food storage, switching to a stainless steel or glass option is the best. Even when you’re looking at blenders and other kitchen gadgets, glass is a great option. I recognize that it’s not always convenient, especially when you have kids using things in your kitchen, so I do have Tritan plastic.

Some of the companies that are using Triton plastic are:

• Vitamix
• Ninja
• AquaTru
• Clearly Filtered

According to the people who make Tritan plastic, it doesn’t have any bisphenols, and it has been tested to find no estrogenic activity. That means there’s no hormone disruption in it whatsoever. 

I think we need more data and testing, but there have been a lot of third-party studies that have shown and proven Tritan plastic does not have bisphenols or other hormone disruptors. Just like anything else, though, when you have something new to the market, it doesn’t mean that eventually some scientific studies might come out and find something problematic with it. As of right now, if you want plastic, Tritan plastic is going to be the safest option for you.

To wrap it up, BPA is bad. BPA-free doesn’t mean there aren’t bisphenols in it, so it’s something you should be avoiding completely. Try to get glass and stainless steel and if you want plastic, stick with Tritan plastic. 

If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please:

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Related Episodes:

Episode 1: What the F*ck is an Endocrine Disruptor, Anyway?

Episode 4: Are Toxins in Your Tap Water? Here’s How to Find Out.