A new assessment confirms the dangers of bisphenol A (BPA), a substance often found in everyday products. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has completed a fresh reassessment of food exposure to BPA, describing it as a health concern for consumers of all ages and substantially lowering the intake levels considered safe for health.
Bisphenol A is a chemical used with other substances to manufacture plastics and resins. It appears in polycarbonate plastics, a clear, sturdy plastic used in water dispensers, reusable beverage bottles, and food storage containers. It is also involved in producing epoxy resins, which provide protective coatings and foils for cans and joinery on food and beverage containers.
“Chemicals such as BPA used in food product containers can migrate into the food and beverages they hold in very small amounts,” notes this European authority, which requires scientists to periodically review its safety in light of new data.
cause of diseases
The last risk assessment took place in 2015, and the current review continues to underline BPA’s potential hazards. Claude Lambré, Chair of EFSA’s Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids Panel, explained that the reassessment drew on extensive scientific literature, including more than 800 studies released since early 2013. This helped address key uncertainties about BPA’s toxicity.
The findings point to potential adverse health effects, prompting EFSA to consider harmful impacts on reproductive, developmental, and metabolic systems, among others. The agency notes that several years of careful evaluation, along with input gathered through a two-month public consultation that began in December 2021, shaped the final conclusions.
Many everyday containers can carry BPA, EFSA emphasizes, underscoring public health concerns across diverse consumer groups.
The results are not entirely reassuring. In several studies, researchers observed a modest increase in a type of white blood cell known as T helper cells in the spleen. These cells play a crucial role in cellular immune responses, and the observed rise could be linked to allergic lung inflammation and autoimmune issues, according to EFSA.
The Technical Commission also considered potentially harmful effects on reproductive, developmental, and metabolic systems identified in the risk assessment.
EFSA notes that the reassessment followed years of evaluation and a broad review of scientific literature, incorporating public input. The aim was to provide a clear view of BPA risk and to inform regulatory decision-making at the European level.
Significant lowering of the security threshold
In comparison with the 2015 assessment, EFSA’s panel redefined the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for BPA, referring to the amount that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without a meaningful risk to health. In 2015, the TDI was set at 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day due to uncertainties in the evidence. The new evaluation identifies a TDI of 0.2 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day, a level that is far lower than previously accepted—20,000 times smaller in numerical terms.
EFSA states that people across all age groups with moderate to high BPA exposure are likely exceeding the new TDI, which raises health concerns. The agency stresses that several variables can influence overall risk, including body stress, genetics, and nutrition.
EU decision makers, including the European Commission and Member State representatives, are responsible for setting limits. EFSA emphasizes that the measure concerns the amount of chemical that can transfer from food packaging to the food itself. The agency’s scientific advice will now inform EU legislators as they discuss appropriate regulatory measures to protect consumers. EFSA notes that its assessments form the basis for future policy discussions and potential updates to food safety rules across member states.
Study summary: EFSA will continue to publish updated information and summaries of the findings as they become available, to aid public understanding and policy planning.
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For further context, EFSA highlights that the food safety picture is shaped by ongoing research and open public dialogue. The agency remains committed to transparent, science-based risk assessment and to guiding policy that protects consumers from potential BPA exposure through everyday products.