Are bisphenols in canned food liners safe for children?
Caution. Most can liners still use bisphenol compounds that leach into food. While BPA has been reduced in many cans, replacements like BPS may have similar effects.
What's actually in it
Most metal food cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol A (BPA) or, in newer formulations, bisphenol S (BPS) or bisphenol F (BPF). These chemicals prevent the can from corroding and give canned food its shelf life. The problem is that these compounds migrate from the lining into the food, especially when cans are exposed to heat or when the food is acidic.
Children are more vulnerable than adults because they're smaller and their bodies are still developing. The same dose from a can of soup means a higher exposure per pound of body weight for a child than for a parent.
What the research says
A 2026 study in a peer-reviewed journal found that perinatal bisphenol exposure impairs working memory in offspring. Researchers found lasting cognitive effects from combined bisphenol exposure during development, including from dietary sources like food packaging.
The study is part of a growing body of research linking bisphenol exposure from food contact materials to hormonal disruption and neurodevelopmental effects in children. BPS and BPF, which replaced BPA in many can liners, show similar estrogenic activity in lab studies.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Perinatal bisphenols exposure and working memory impairment | Toxicol Sci | 2026 |
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