Is it safe to drink canned sodas from bodegas and corner stores?

What's actually in it

Soda cans use epoxy liners to keep the acidic drink from reacting with the aluminum. US major brands largely switched to BPA-free liners a few years ago. Imported sodas, regional brands, and older stock at corner stores sometimes still use BPA-based linings. The acid and carbonation of the drink pull bisphenols into every can.

Corner store inventory turnover is slow, so older stock with original liners still ends up in hand.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Molecules did quantitative analysis of bisphenol A in commercial beverages and found measurable BPA in a meaningful share of canned drinks. Levels varied widely by brand and country of origin. Imported soft drinks and certain regional brands were the highest. Regular consumers of these drinks could exceed tolerable daily intake for BPA through soda alone.

For daily sodas, glass-bottled versions (Mexican Coke in the classic glass bottle, fountain soda in a paper cup) skip the can liner. Sparkling water with a splash of juice is a cleaner swap for the carbonation and sweetness. If canned soda is unavoidable, rotate brands rather than sticking to one imported favorite, and drink it fresh rather than storing cans for weeks.