Migration of bisphenol A from can coatings into food

The Food Standards Agency is carrying out a consultation in response to a survey of bisphenol A in canned food because of the uncertainties that exist in the scientific understanding of potential endocrine effects of this substance.

Please send your comments to the Agency's Food Contact Materials Unit by 4th July 2001. Contact details above.

Please consider the findings of the Agency's survey, reported in the Food Surveillance Information Sheet (FSIS 13/01 of April 2001). Also attached is an opinion on the public health significance of these findings from the Committee on Toxicity at Annex 1 to the Information Sheet.

The Agency would welcome comments on the following points and questions:

• The survey was carried out to establish whether migration of bisphenols A or F occurs into retail samples of canned foods in the UK. No migration of bisphenol F was found. Bisphenol A was detected at up to 0.07 mg/kg in 37 samples and at 0.35 to 0.42 mg/kg in one sample (limit of detection: 0.002 mg/kg; limit of quantification: 0.007 mg/kg). Bisphenol A is used to make most types of epoxy resins. These are cross-linked before being applied to the insides of cans. Bisphenol A is not generally used for cross-linking as this could lead to more migration. We understand that action has been taken to avoid the use of this substance as a cross-linking agent in can coatings. What other measures may be needed to reassure consumers?
• UK industry has been taking steps to find ways of reducing the migration of bisphenol A and to find possible alternative substances. Given the role that coatings have in protecting the microbiological and chemical safety of canned food, it is important that any alternative substances to bisphenol A do not allow bacterial or metallic contamination of canned food and do not themselves raise safety concerns. It would be helpful if industry could provide information on progress in this work, for example on possible alternatives to bisphenol A.
• The trade in canned foods is international. But there appears to be little information about bisphenol A migration into canned food and drink in other countries. The Food Standards Agency will continue to press for EU-wide controls on chemical migration into canned foods (see for example Food Surveillance Information Sheet no. 7/00). It would be helpful to pool available information on work that is going on overseas on bisphenol A migration into canned food and drink.
• Some environmentalists have pressed for more information on the use of substances such as bisphenol A, that they believe are hazardous, to allow consumers to make an informed choice. Which substances are acceptable to environmentalists in this context and on what scientific basis? What information would consumers welcome about chemical migration from can coatings?

After comments have been received they will be carefully compiled and considered. We will put a summary of the responses on the Agency website, and a copy will be sent to all respondents.

Your comments should be sent by post or email to Harriette Lascelles.We look forward to receiving your comments.

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with the HM Government Code of Practice on Consultation, which states that a consultation must follow better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment (Regulatory Impact Assessment in Scotland). The assessment is included in the consultation documents.

We are interested in what you thought of this consultation and would therefore welcome your general feedback on both the consultation package and overall consultation process. If you would like to assist us to improve the quality of future consultations, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by using the consultation feedback questionnaire.

Consultation feedback questionnaire (Word)

Consultation feedback questionnaire (pdf)

In accordance with the FSA principle of openness our Information Centre at Aviation House will hold a copy of the completed consultation. Responses will be open to public access upon request. The FSA will also publish a summary of responses, which may include personal data, such as your full name and contact address details. If you do not want this information to be released, please complete and return the Publication of Personal Data Form. Return of this form does not mean that we will treat your response to the consultation as confidential, just your personal data.

Data protection form (Word)

Data protection form (pdf)

Within three months of a consultation ending we aim to publish a summary of responses received and provide a link to it from this page.

If, after three months, the summary is still not showing, please contact the person who was responsible for the original consultation. Alternatively, you can contact the FSA Consultation Co-ordinator by email: consultationcoordinator@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk