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New measures of the European Union

EU bans BPA in food packaging: What is bisphenol A and how dangerous is it?

The European Union is introducing one of the world's strictest bans on bisphenol A. This widespread industrial chemical is found in many products, and scientific studies point to its possible harmful effects on health.

Jeanette Zwink / DW

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When buying plastic items, look for the "Bisphenol-free" label - the "BPA-free" label is not enough. Even when camping, do not reheat canned food directly. As a general rule, drink tap water only when it is cold (which also protects it from heavy metals). Also, consuming non-digestible plant-based dietary fiber can be helpful. It is known that they bind toxic substances and expel them from the body, which has been proven for certain substances from the PFAS group. Whether this mechanism also works with bisphenol has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!', title: 'EU bans BPA in food packaging: What is bisphenol A and how dangerous is it?', pubdate: '2026-06-26 10:39:17', authors: authors, sections: "Mozaik", tags: "Bisphenol A,BPA,European Union,Chemical,Nutrition,Ban", access_level: access_level, article_type: "news", reader_type: reader_type }; (function (d, s) { var sf = d.createElement(s); sf.type = 'text/javascript'; sf.async = true; sf.src = (('https:' == d.location.protocol) ? 'https://d7d3cf2e81d293050033-3dfc0615b0fd7b49143049256703bfce.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com' : 'http://t.contentinsights.com') + '/stf.js'; var t = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(sf, t); })(document, 'script'); dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'Pageview', 'pagePath': url, 'pageTitle': 'EU bans BPA in food packaging: What is bisphenol A and how dangerous is it?', 'pageContent': 'From July 2026 in to the European Union more will not be allowed the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging. What is this chemical and how can we avoid it? In baby bottles and thermal paper, such as fiscal bills, this chemical is already banned, and now we should prevent bisphenol A from getting into our body through food. With the end of the transition period from July 2026, food packaging produced with the use of BPA or similar bisphenols will no longer be allowed to be sold in the EU, it says Deutsche says. Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical. It is used for the production of hard and transparent plastic known as polycarbonate, as well as so-called epoxy resins. These resins are found, for example, in the inner layer of food cans or beverage cans. There, they have a role to prevent rusting of the sheet metal and the dissolution of metals that would then pass into the food. BPA can also be found in plastic films, printing inks or adhesives. According to data from the environmental organization BUND, about 410.000 tons of this substance are marketed annually in Germany alone. The EU ban applies not only to single-use packaging, but also to items such as water bottles, snack boxes or plastic kitchenware.

How bisphenols like BPA can harm our health

When chemicals like BPA are used in food containers, small amounts can leach into foods and beverages. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), bisphenol A poses a health risk for all age groups. Among other things, EFSA states that BPA can alter certain mechanisms of the immune system and cause asthma and autoimmune diseases. There are also indications that it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. First of all, BPA has a harmful effect on the hormonal system: it can, for example, threaten the fertility of men and women, potentially disrupt puberty and is associated with the development of certain types of cancer.

The hormonal action of BPA has been known for almost 100 years

The fact that bisphenol A can act similarly to the natural female sex hormone estrogen is not a new discovery. BPA was tested as an artificial estrogen as early as the 1930s. However, then the estrogen derivative DES (diethylstilbestrol), which has a very similar molecular structure to BPA, came into use. DES was used until the 1970s to prevent complications in pregnancy. However, it turned out that it increased the risk of breast cancer, while the daughters of the treated women had an increased risk of complications during childbirth, as well as vaginal and cervical cancer. The prescription of DES as a synthetic hormone derivative was banned in 1971.

EU and US studies: Almost everyone has BPA in their body

In European Environment Agency (EEA) research conducted in eleven European countries, bisphenol A was detected in the urine of 92 percent of participants. In the 2003–2004 US National Health Study. , 93 percent of over 2500 participants had BPA in their urine. There is no federal ban on this chemical in food packaging in the US. However, since 2012 it has been banned in baby bottles and cups, and since 2013 in baby food packaging. Some states have banned BPA in thermal paper, while in California products with high BPA content must carry warnings. In Europe, the EFSA has therefore reduced the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of bisphenol A from 4 micrograms to 0,2 nanograms per kilogram of body weight – the amount assumed to cause no harm. Although bisphenols like BPA, or substances with a similar effect like BPF and BPS, are present in many products - including materials for dental fillings or underwear made of synthetic fibers - and are found in the air, dust and water, they enter our bodies mainly through food and drink containers. Pregnant women transfer them to the fetus through the placenta.

The European Union is still not completely BPA-free

The latest ban on BPA in food containers in the EU is the strictest in the world, but there are certain exceptions and additional transition periods. Thus, food already in BPA-containing packaging can be sold until supplies run out, among other things to prevent food waste. Where there are still no suitable alternatives to BPA, transitional periods have been granted. This is the case with canned acidic foods, such as fish, fruits and vegetables. They can be coated with BPA until 2028, as this prevents acid from corroding the tin and transferring to the contents of the can. Bisphenol A can also get into our drinking water. This happens if epoxy resins were used for the inner coating during the rehabilitation of water pipes. They become brittle over time, so the chemical can pass into the water. Therefore, it is better not to drink hot water from the tap. With cold water, the risk is significantly lower, while showering with hot water does not present any problem.

How can we avoid bisphenols?

In the European Union, there is no obligation to list BPA coatings on products. Even the label "BPA-free" does not mean much, because other types of bisphenol could have been used in the production. However, with a few measures we can protect ourselves: Avoid canned food. Use glass jars. Instead of plastic, use kitchen utensils made of wood, glass or stainless steel. Avoid using plastic dishes in the microwave. When buying plastic items, look for the "Bisphenol-free" label - the "BPA-free" label is not enough. Even when camping, do not reheat canned food directly. As a general rule, drink tap water only when it is cold (which also protects it from heavy metals). Also, consuming non-digestible plant-based dietary fiber can be helpful. It is known that they bind toxic substances and expel them from the body, which has been proven for certain substances from the PFAS group. Whether this mechanism also works with bisphenol has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!', 'pageDate': '2026-06-26 10:39:17', 'pageAuthor': authors, 'visitorType': visitor_type, }); console.log(post_id); console.log('Pushed'); });