A few days ago my daughter and I decided to get a pedicure together as a special treat before school starts. I settled into my cushioned chair and picked up what was supposed to be a relaxing read — the July issue of Vogue magazine — but soon found my anxiety level rising as I read a disturbing report about the potential dangers to children from cell phone use. Later that day, a friend on Facebook passed on an article about the dangers posed to children by cleaning products, and then last night I opened up the New York Times to read about the hazards of lead exposure from moon walks and other inflatable bouncy toys.
We’re exposed to so much disturbing information about food and environmental safety on a daily basis that the natural response is to want to move your family to a cabin in some remote stretch of wilderness — or, for the lazy, to just pull the covers up over your head and shut it all out. So every time another one of these alarming news items comes across my desk, I think long and hard before sharing it here.
That said, I felt that this blog post, which lists the hidden sources of BPA in our (and our children’s) diets and environments, provided valuable information I hadn’t seen elsewhere. We probably all know about the BPA lurking in our canned food, but did you realize that we can be exposed to far more BPA from handling grocery receipts? Or that it’s found in pizza boxes made from recycled materials?
For a long time I managed to squelch my anxiety about BPA, but now that the FDA has reversed its prior position and expressed “concern” about the chemical, I’m starting to take it more seriously. And that’s a big problem, because a few of my family’s favorite dinners depend on canned foods, such as the black beans I use to make black bean soup, the canned tomatoes I put in chili and various Indian entrees, the fat-free refried beans that show up on taco night. I know there are from-scratch fixes to all of these recipes, but if I’m having to soak my beans overnight, or core and stew my tomatoes before I start cooking, these will no longer be the quick and easy entrees I’ve come to depend on when time is tight.
Please excuse me while I return to my bed and pull the covers over my head.
NotCinderell says
My husband’s theory on BPA is that it’s a hysteria over correlation and causation. BPA concentration is higher in people who eat a lot of processed foods, but is BPA to blame for all their health problems, or is it just the processed food itself?
Viki says
The world is a scary place. A few months ago I wrote a blog post on my search for a reusable cup and straw that contained no BPA. I didn’t want to buy bottled water anymore because of the BPA and recycling concerns. (btw, I’m using a steel straw)
It is in everything.
My brother has a type of R.A. and his wife has Lupus. They have a huge garden and they now can their own tomatoes and beans and freeze a lot of other veg.
I use my crock pot a lot for beans and soups on days I work but, I’m thinking of buying a good pressure cooker. I too have utilized canned beans rinsing them to cut the salt. I use whole pintos and make my own refrieds now though…although i don’t do the low fat after reading “Real Food What to Eat and Why” by Nina Planck. What an education on Fats, good bad and industrial. I highly recommend this book.
I’ve noticed that the canned tomatoes that I use don’t have the white liner anymore…are all cans still lined even if it isn’t white? How do we find out?
My husband and I are looking into buying a freezer and putting in a larger garden next year and joining a CSA so we can freeze what we can’t eat in a few days. So we don’t have to buy cans. What about the bags we freeze with? More research.
Dr. Susan Rubin says
I hate to tell you this, but that manicure pedicure combo is another super duper toxic deal as well. Less toxic polishes are available at health food stores but it still enforces that mani/pedi habit.
Why not have a home “spa day” instead? You’ll be able to dig up lots of fun recipes for beauty treatments.
Or find a good foot reflexologist and go for a foot rub!
Karen says
A couple of hints on the canned food thing –
You can find tomatoes in glass jars at Rice Epicurean, Central Market and perhaps elsewhere.
I also have started buying tomatoes from Pomi, in the cardboard boxes. Putting on the blinders to the liner in that box, but since it’s sold in Europe I’m hopeful that it’s BPA free. I’ve been called Pollyanna before, so this may be a bad suggestion.
Pinto beans only take about 45 minutes to go from dried in the bag to mashed in your pot. It is a great way to save $$, reduce sodium and get away from BPA. We haven’t made this our practice on a regular basis yet, but I plan to do it much more often now that we’re back in the house. Haven’t yet addressed black beans or other legumes, but a pressure cooker is a good option here too.
bettina elias siegel says
Much appreciated! I’ve been considering the Pomi brand for that reason but hadn’t yet switched. If I find out anything about the liners, I’ll let you know.