Developed in the early 1900s by the pharmaceutical industry, bisphenols are synthetic estrogens that came into greater popularity in the 1950s due to their ability to make plastics lightweight and flexible. Unfortunately, they have been linked to fertility problems, heart disease, and diabetes.

What about the nonsense?

Well, BPA free unfortunately does not mean you are in the clear. Many plastics have replaced BPA with similar compounds that have similar health concerns.

1. Ditch plastic containers and swap for glass or stainless steel. Why? Just because plastic is labeled BPA-free, it likely means Bisphenol A was swapped out for a different type of bisphenol.
2. If you are going to keep some plastic containers around… Don’t heat them up. Whether it is heating up leftovers or the dishwasher, avoid heating plastics and make sure to ditch any plastic containers that have scratches. (links to my favorites below)
3. Eat less canned foods & beverages. Bisphenols are used to line the cans to decrease leaking and preserve foods.
4. Skip the receipt and go digital when you can. Thermal paper that is used for receipts, airline boarding passes, and event tickets are lined with BPA.
5. When purchasing toys, consider non-toxic wooden toys when able.

Want to learn more?

Check out this book:

Sicker, Fatter, Poorer: The Urgent Threat of Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals to Our Health and Future . . . and What We Can Do About It

Here are a few of our favorite products:

Glass storage containers:

My water bottle:

Reusable storage containers that are easier to clean and dry:

Toy brands to check out: Hape, Melissa & Doug, Green Toys, and Tegu