EU enacts BPA ban, but products still contain it

Bisphenol A (BPA) is known for its hormone-disrupting, immune system-damaging, and fertility-reducing effects. Despite a new European Union ban effective this week, BPA remains prevalent in food and beverage packaging, such as storage containers, reusable bottles, and coffee cups.

BPA has been used for decades due to its properties that strengthen plastics and protect metals. However, recent research has highlighted its adverse health effects.

In 2011, BPA was banned from baby bottles, and later in products for children under three. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) significantly lowered the acceptable daily intake of BPA in 2023, revealing that current exposure greatly exceeds safe levels.

Although the EU ban is now in place, manufacturers have up to three years to find alternatives. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) notes that consumers are not informed of which products still contain BPA and suggests opting for fresh, unpackaged foods.

Some companies label their products as “BPA-free,” though this often applies to items that never contained it in the first place.

Source: NOS

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