My last post discussed the latest research about the chemical compound BPA and why we need it out of our lives now. So what should you replace BPA with? (Tweet this) It’s better to err on the side of caution where plastic and food or drink are concerned. To that end, here are a few recommendations that are pretty simple and inexpensive to follow:
Ditch plastic food containers, baby bottles and water bottles, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing. Do use stainless steel and glass.
Stainless steel makes for a terrific water bottle. It’s light, almost indestructible, and affordable. Plus, stainless steel bottles come in a wide variety of sizes, small enough to tuck into a purse or large enough to put in a backpack, stroller, or bicycle rack.
You can also get stainless steel food containers for leftovers and taking your lunch to work so you don’t need to store any food in plastic. Companies like
Reuse empty glass food jars into storage containers as well, and use glass Mason jars to take food to work, as well.
Hot or warm food or liquids do not belong in plastics. Use glass or stainless steel containers instead.
Before storing any food, let it cool down before putting it in a glass jar or food container.
Use a reusable coffee or tea mug that has a stainless steel liner.
Take soups in a glass jar to work and heat them there, rather than heat them at home and put hot food in them to take to work.
Don’t put plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, bottles and food storage containers in the microwave or dishwasher. Wash them by hand in hot soapy water and let them drip dry.
Leaching chemicals can happen from repeated use and scratches that accumulate over time. Wash them gently by hand to keep them from breaking down.
Skip the plastic wrap and plastic bags. Use glass or stainless steel alternatives instead.
Often, I just put a glass saucer or plate on top of a bowl of leftovers – no plastic needed. I also use silicone lids like these. They adhere to the edges of a bowl perfectly and are easy to clean.
Cut down on canned food. Eat fresh, frozen, or leftovers instead.
Canned foods had the highest concentrations of bisphenols, with concentrations generally between 1 and 100 parts per billion. Food sold in non-metal packaging generally had less than 1 part per billion of any bisphenol. BPA was the most common chemical detected in all food types, but bisphenol F and bisphenol S were detected in many food samples, generally in lower concentrations.
When cooking at home, double a recipe so you have ample leftovers to take to work or serve for another meal when you got home. That way, you can avoid fast food and can be organized enough to store food properly. Think about what canned food you buy the most of and make it ahead. Buy frozen rather than canned.
Pre-mixed baby formula in cans or plastic containers are questionable. To be on the safe side, if you use baby formula, choose a powdered brand that you can mix with your own filtered water.
Whether pre-made formula comes in cans or bottles, the liquid is likely to absorb BP-whatever from the lining. So it’s better to give your baby powdered formula.
Throw away chipped or cracked plastic food products.
Not only can cracked plastic harbor germs, but it’s more likely to leach the chemicals in the plastic, says WebMD.
Bottom Line
BPA, BPF, BPS and BPA-Free all spell the same thing: “Bad news.”
If you can possibly avoid eating food or drinking a beverage that’s been contained in plastic, do it.
Switch to glass and stainless steel.
If you’ve taken other steps to avoid BPA and BPA-free products, please share in the comment section below. Thank you!