A new study by the Breast Cancer Fund in the U.S. says cutting out canned foods in your diet can reduce your risk of serious health problems.

Canned food is found in homes and store shelves across the country. The liner in some cans may be made with the chemical Bisphenol A, also called BPA.

"Lab studies suggest BPA may play a role in breast cancer, prostate cancer, infertility, early puberty, obesity, diabetes and ADHD," said Ruthann Rudel, a researcher with Silent Spring Institute.

The Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute wanted to know if dropping canned food from the diets of five families would make a difference in the level of BPA in their bodies.

Researcher Connie Engel from the Breast Cancer Fund says the results were startling.

"The average drop in BPA was a little more than 60 per cent and it went right back up when they went to their normal diets," says Engel.

For three days, families like the Laurlunds ate only organic food prepared by a chef, avoiding foods stored in plastic or cans.

They were tested before, during and after the diet intervention.

"I was shocked. I thought our levels were going to be relatively low," said Monica Laurlund.

Researchers identify 10 canned foods consumers should avoid, including coconut milk, soup, meat, vegetables and meals like ravioli in sauce.

While baby bottles containing Bisphenol A were banned in Canada last march, officials with Health Canada say other food packaging is not a health concern.

"Based on its most recent assessment, Health Canada has concluded that current dietary exposure to Bisphenol A through food packaging does not pose a health risk to the general population, including newborns and infants," said officials with Health Canada in a statement.

A food sciences professor at the University of Manitoba agrees.

Rick Holley says BPA mimics estrogen synthetically, but is also found naturally in fresh food as well.

"These compounds naturally occur in things like beans and peas and spinach and soy and at levels that could generate levels in the blood at a thousands times greater than you could achieve with the consumption of food packaged in a can," says Holley.

He says more research and larger sample sizes are needed before he tells consumers to change their habits.

But, Laurlund isn't waiting for more studies.

"As far as canned products, I have completely eliminated them from our diet," says Laurlund.

All sides agree that avoiding microwaving or adding hot liquid to plastic will minimize BPA leaching into food or drink.

The debate continues, however, over the long-term health effects of BPA.

CTV News contacted several food companies, including ConAgra, Campbell's and Heinz.

ConAgra says it is taking steps to find alternatives to BPA in can lining. Heinz Canada says it too is exploring alternatives to BPA in response to consumer opinion. Campbell's did not respond.

The International Food Information Council is also weighing in.

"This study has a very limited sample size and confirms that BPA is quickly excreted from the body. Unfortunately, some are using this study to once again pick off BPA as a chemical of the day to needlessly scare consumers into making irrational decisions based on emotion rather than the science that supports its safe use," said IFIC in a statement, adding more research is needed.

"We advise consumers to maintain a healthful diet, rich in variety, consumed in moderation to maintain and sustain maximum healthfulness," said the IFIC.

 - with a report from CTV's Eleanor Coopsammy

Top 10 canned foods to avoid, according to the Breast Cancer Fund

  • Coconut milk
  • Soup
  • Meat
  • Vegetables
  • Meals (example: ravioli in sauce)
  • Juice
  • Fish
  • Beans
  • Meal replacement drinks
  • Fruit

SOURCE: http://www.breastcancerfund.org/

Green Century and As You Sow released a report ranking food and beverage companies on their efforts to address BPA in their product packaging. The report can be found at the link below:

Seeking Safer Packaging report (pdf)