ARCHIVED - Survey of Bisphenol A in Canned Liquid Infant Formula Products

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health Canada, 2008.

Cat.: H164-79/2008E-PDF
ISBN: 978-0-662-48684-8

Table of Contents

• Background
• Sampling Plan and Analytical Method
• BPA Levels in Canned Infant Formula Products
• Health Significance of the Survey Results
• Table 1: Concentrations of BPA in canned liquid infant formula products

Background

Bisphenol A (BPA) is the common name for 2,2-(4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl)propane, 4,4'-isopropyllidenediphenol, or 2,2'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane. It is used as an intermediate in the production of epoxy resins, and epoxy resins are used in the internal coating for food and beverage cans to protect the food from direct contact with metal. BPA can migrate from cans with epoxy coating into foods, especially at elevated temperatures (for example, for hot-fill or heat-processed canned foods). BPA is one of the 23000 chemical substances on the CEPA (Canadian Environmental Protection Act) domestic substance list (DSL) identified for further evaluation under government of Canada's chemical management plan (CMP). As part of this evaluation process for BPA, an exposure assessment needs to be conducted in order to determine infant exposures to BPA due to consumption of canned liquid infant formula products. In this survey, samples of 21 canned liquid infant formula products of various brands were analysed for BPA using a method with a quantification limit as low as 0.5 ng g-1, and the results were used to estimate dietary intakes of BPA for infants in different age groups.

Sampling Plan and Analytical Methodology

A minimum of 3 cans (with the same lot number) of each of the 21 liquid infant formula products were purchased in October 2007 in a local grocery store in Ottawa. These products covered 8 brands from 4 companies. Among the 21 products, 17 products were milk based and 4 were soya based; 18 were concentrated and 3 were ready to use. All samples were stored at room temperature before analysis.

The samples were analysed by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method after solid phase extraction and derivatization with acetic anhydride.

Notes:

• This initial sampling will be expanded to include other canned infant formula products sold in Canada. As new data is generated, Health Canada will update the survey results accordingly.
• Canned infant formula samples were tested as consumed.
• Samples represent a "snapshot" of the market and do not represent market share. Differences between brands do not necessarily reflect differences in consumer exposure to BPA. The results shown in Table 1 are exploratory and should not be used to indicate the distribution of bisphenol A in canned infant formula products or as indices of good product choices for consumers

BPA Levels in Canned Liquid Infant Formula Products

Table 1 summarizes the levels of BPA determined in samples of the canned liquid infant formula products. BPA was detected in all 21 products. Concentrations of BPA ranged from 2.27 to 10.2 ng g-1 with an average of 5.12 ng g-1, well below the specific migration limit of 0.6 mg g-1 set by the EC Directive for BPA in food or food stimulant.

Health Significance of the Survey Results

The levels of BPA detected in canned liquid infant formula available for sale in Canada are low. In March 2008, Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a Health Risk Assessment of BPA from food packaging applications which used the results of this survey to determine exposure estimates to BPA. Health Canada's Food Directorate has concluded that:

• The current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging is not expected to pose a health risk to the general population, including newborns and young children.
  • This conclusion has been re-affirmed by health agencies in other countries, including notably the United States, Europe and Japan.
• In view of uncertainties related to datasets on possible neurodevelopmental and behavioural effects that BPA may have in experimental animals, Health Canada has recommended that precaution be exerted on products consumed by the sensitive subset of the population, i.e. infants and newborns, by applying the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle to reduce their exposure to BPA through food packaging applications." - Replace the Table, including its title and footnotes, with the following: