Concerns for BPA in DIY cooking pots

[zelph]

This is old news(2004) but good for review. I highlighted some facts that were interesting to me:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15712526

Food Addit Contam. 2004 Oct;21(10):1015-26.
Migration of bisphenol A from can coatings--effects of damage, storage conditions and heating.
Goodson A, Robin H, Summerfield W, Cooper I.
SourcePira International, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7RU, UK.

Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important monomer used in the manufacture of epoxy resins for internal food can linings. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different storage conditions and can damage on the migration of BPA to foods. These experiments were conducted in a systematic fashion by filling empty epoxyphenolic coated cans with four foods: soup, minced beef, evaporated milk and carrots and a food simulant (10% ethanol). Filled cans of each food type or simulant were then sealed and processed using appropriate conditions, before storage at three different temperatures: 5 degrees C, 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C. For each of the storage regimes, 50% of the cans were dented to establish if this would lead to increased BPA migration. Cans were removed from these stocks at intervals of 1, 3 and 9 months storage at 5 degrees C and 20 degrees C or 10 days, 1 and 3 months at 40 degrees C. Some initial problems of heterogeneity between samples was overcome by determining the amount of BPA in food as well as in the can lining. It was found that 80-100% of the total BPA present in the coating had migrated to foods directly after can processing by pilot plant filling with food or simulant, sealing and sterilization. This level was not changed by extended storage (up to 9 months) or can damage, indicating most migration was occurring during the can processing step. There was no noticeable difference, in this respect, between the different foods or the food simulant. Analysis of control samples (foods fortified with approximately 0.1 mg kg(-1) BPA and contained in Schott bottles) showed that BPA was stable under both processing and storage. Experiments were also conducted to investigate the potential effects, on the migration of BPA from can coatings, of cooking or heating foods in the can prior to consumption. Food cans were purchased and the food either cooked or heated in the can. BPA was analysed prior to and after the heating/cooking process. It was concluded from the results that there were no appreciable differences in the BPA level before and after cooking or heating.

PMID:15712526[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Publication Types, MeSH

 

[MANIMAL]

every tin can i use for a makeshift boilerpot stove gets an initial dry burn in th efire good and long to burn out any "coating" that may be inside.

 

[zelph]

every tin can i use for a makeshift boilerpot stove gets an initial dry burn in th efire good and long to burn out any "coating" that may be inside.

Now that we know little remains of the bpa we can leave the coating there to prevent it from rusting in the case of using steel cans. Many a hobo pot made of #10 cans have been used over the years.

 

[HillbillyBushcraft]

Now that we know little remains of the bpa we can leave the coating there to prevent it from rusting in the case of using steel cans. Many a hobo pot made of #10 cans have been used over the years.

The article above states that the highest transfer of BPA happens at the initial "cooking" or cannins.

One would reason that heating the can again with "new" food inside would again transfer bpa from the plastic into the new food.

But I guess the article doesn't go on to say whether there is a negligible amount of BPA left in the plastic lining after the inital plant-processing.

 

[bluedog]

You're going to get more phyto-oestrogens out of the soymilk latte that you have on the way to your bushcraft weekend than you are from your hobo billy can.

 

[zelph]

The article above states that the highest transfer of BPA happens at the initial "cooking" or cannins.

One would reason that heating the can again with "new" food inside would again transfer bpa from the plastic into the new food.

But I guess the article doesn't go on to say whether there is a negligible amount of BPA left in the plastic lining after the inital plant-processing.

The article went on to say: "Experiments were also conducted to investigate the potential effects, on the migration of BPA from can coatings, of cooking or heating foods in the can prior to consumption. Food cans were purchased and the food either cooked or heated in the can. BPA was analysed prior to and after the heating/cooking process. It was concluded from the results that there were no appreciable differences in the BPA level before and after cooking or heating."

They say we can heat the cannned food on our little stoves and no appreciable differences in BPA will be released.

I'm also led to believe that water heated in Foster's and Heineken cans has no appreciable levels of BPA.

 

[layton13069]

I think BPA makes my food taste better lol...j'k... The coffee cans that I use for my billy can/ hobo stove don't appear to have any coating on them at all.. unless it is microscopic..

 

[Adam B]

Can anybody get the full text of this article?

it is very hard to draw conclusions from the abstract only.

 

[whiskersnitch]

I think the issues arise, though, when you try to cook dry (or your water boils dry) in a beer can pot and it starts to melt the lining... I think this is why I'll never use one. I like a cooking pot I can fry in, if need be. There's also the hard-to-wash factor with beer cans, and nooks and crannies where bad stuff might grow.

But in a pinch, to boil water, you should be all right. Lots of people do it, especially those kooky (I say it with love...) UL hikers.

 

[Gryphonblade]

I'm more concerned with what are the actual levels in the food itself?

I scrub and burn out my cans. Yeah, ok, bpa or not, there's still a coating in there that flakes off and I don't like it in my food. Other cans are lined with plastic and I really don't want melted plastic in my food.

Honestly, I don't use food cans for cooking pots. I have a kettle, canteen cup, fry pan and a pot in my kit. But I do use cans for stoves. I burn them out pretty good in my test burns after I make them. I've got a couple #10 twig burners and a halfway decent woodgas that's in storage...working on making a new one.