Is it safe to give kids canned pears as a first fruit?
Fresh or jarred is better. Canned fruit sits against BPA liners and picks up bisphenols over months on the shelf.
What's actually in it
Most canned fruit in the U.S. uses steel cans with epoxy BPA liners. Fruit is slightly acidic, which speeds BPA migration. Long shelf life means long contact time.
Jarred and fresh fruit skip the liner entirely. Frozen fruit is also BPA-free in most cases.
What the research says
A 2025 trial in Sci Rep showed canned drinks raised urinary BPA and blood pressure measurably within hours. A 2025 cohort study linked BPA and its cousins BPS and BPF to lower IQ in children at age 6.
For a baby's first fruit, use fresh or jarred pears, or frozen organic pear pieces. Save canned fruit for pantry emergencies.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Urinary bisphenol levels and blood pressure after soda consumption. | Sci Rep | 2025 |
| Bisphenol analogs exposure in 4-year-old children and IQ at 6 years. | Environ Res | 2025 |
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