Eating food from cans for five days is associated with a large increase in the amount of bisphenol A (BPA) found in urine.

We analyzed the available evidence and found that eating canned food for five days is associated with a noticeable rise in BPA levels in urine [1]. The evidence we’ve reviewed includes 54 studies or assertions that support this link, with none that contradict it. BPA is a chemical used in the lining of many food cans, and when food comes into contact with this lining, small amounts can transfer into the food and then into the body. Urine tests are a common way to measure how much of this chemical has been absorbed. What we’ve found so far suggests that switching to canned foods for just five days can lead to higher levels of BPA being detected in urine compared to when people eat fresh or unpackaged foods. This pattern appears consistently across multiple observations. However, we don’t know how long these elevated levels last after stopping canned food, or whether this change has any health impact. The evidence doesn’t tell us if the amount of BPA detected is harmful, safe, or somewhere in between — only that it increases. Our current analysis shows a clear connection between canned food consumption and higher BPA in urine, but we don’t yet have enough data to say what this means for long-term health. If you’re concerned about BPA exposure, reducing canned food intake for a few days may lower your levels, based on what we’ve seen so far.