How much BPA actually leaches into canned and bottled drinks?

What's actually in it

BPA (bisphenol A) is used in the epoxy linings of metal cans and in some plastic bottles. That lining keeps the metal from corroding, but it also leaches BPA into whatever liquid sits inside. Sodas, sparkling water, canned tea, energy drinks, and canned juices can all pick up BPA from their packaging.

The longer a drink sits in its container, and the warmer it gets, the more BPA seeps in. A can of soda stored in a hot warehouse for weeks will have more BPA than one grabbed fresh from a refrigerated shelf.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Molecules tested BPA levels in commercial beverages bought from regular stores. The researchers used sensitive lab methods to measure exactly how much BPA was in each drink.

They found measurable BPA in a wide range of products. Canned drinks tended to have higher levels than bottled ones, which makes sense given the epoxy can linings. Some samples had BPA concentrations that, if you drank several servings a day, would push your intake past the levels many health agencies consider safe.

The numbers varied a lot between brands and drink types. That means two cans of different sodas sitting on the same shelf could give you very different BPA doses. There's no way to tell from the outside which ones are higher.

If you drink canned beverages regularly, consider switching to glass-bottled options or using a filter at home. Drinks in glass bottles or cartons tend to have much lower bisphenol levels than their canned versions.