Scientists question the safety of BPA-free packaging
McGill University
Some triggered unusual fat buildup and disrupted genes linked to cell
repair and growth. The results raise concerns that BPA replacements may be just
as troubling as the chemical they replaced.
Chemicals used as replacements for bisphenol A (BPA) in food
packaging may have concerning effects on human ovarian cells, according to
researchers at McGill University.
In a new study, scientists analyzed several substances
commonly found in price stickers attached to packaged meat, fish, cheese, and
fresh produce. Their experiments revealed early warning signs of possible
toxicity linked to these chemicals.
The results, published in the journal Toxicological
Sciences, raise new questions about whether BPA-free packaging is truly
safer and whether existing regulations provide enough protection for consumers.
BPA replacements linked to cellular changes
The investigation built on a 2023 finding by Stéphane Bayen,
Associate Professor in McGill's Department of Food Science and Agricultural
Chemistry. His earlier research showed that chemicals used in label printing,
including bisphenol S (BPS), a common BPA substitute, can migrate through
plastic wrap and end up in food. To better understand what happens after
exposure, Bayen partnered with experts in reproductive toxicology.
The research team exposed lab-grown human ovarian cells to
four widely used BPA alternatives: TGSA, D-8, PF-201 and BPS. Several of these
substances, especially TGSA and D-8, led to fat droplet buildup inside the
cells and altered the activity of genes involved in cell growth and DNA repair.
"These are major cellular functions," said Bernard
Robaire, co-senior author of the study and James McGill Professor in McGill's
Departments of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Obstetrics & Gynecology.
"Disrupting them doesn't prove harm in humans, but it gives us a strong
signal that these chemicals should be further investigated."
BPA-free labels and regulatory blind spots
BPA is known to interfere with hormone activity and has been
associated with fertility issues, developmental problems, and metabolic
disorders. Due to these risks, it has been banned from baby bottles and
restricted in certain products in Canada.
However, many of the chemicals introduced to replace BPA are
not subject to the same level of oversight and are not routinely tested for
safety, the researchers noted.
"'BPA-free' is an incredibly misleading label,"
said Robaire. "It usually means one bisphenol has been swapped for
another, and there are more than 200 of them. Some may be just as harmful, or
even worse. We need to test these compounds before they're widely adopted, not
after."
Health Canada has since added all four chemicals examined in
the study to a list of substances that require further review.
For consumers who want to reduce potential exposure, Robaire
advises removing price labels and plastic wrap from fresh foods before storing
them. He also suggests choosing items from the top of display stacks at grocery
stores, since pressure from stacked products below may increase the transfer of
chemicals into food.
About the study
"High-content imaging and transcriptomic analyses of
the effects of bisphenol S and alternative color developers on KGN granulosa
cells" by Lama Iskandarani, Stéphane Bayen, Barbara Hales and Bernard
Robaire was published in Toxicological Sciences.
The research was supported by the McGill Sustainability
Systems Initiative.
Journal Reference:
- Lama
Iskandarani, Stéphane Bayen, Barbara F Hales, Bernard Robaire. High-content
imaging and transcriptomic analyses of the effects of bisphenol S and
alternative color developers on KGN granulosa cells. Toxicological
Sciences, 2025; 207 (2): 401 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf096
