If not, the abridged version is that Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of several compounds developed to make plastics shatterproof as well as prevent corrosion and food-to-container adhesion. It's still commonly found in water-bottles and food storage containers of both the reusable and disposable, ahem, recyclable varieties, as well as in the non-stick coating on many canned foods, cooking utensils and pans.
We now understand that BPA contaminates food that it comes into contact with, a process which is magnified when the container is exposed to heat via microwave or even simply sunlight. While most BPA we absorb is eliminated daily, daily exposure to BPA permits maintaining a constant level in our bodies, which can increase the rate of breast cancer cell growth in women and decrease sperm count in men.
You can avoid this issue by choosing glass and stainless steel cookware and storage containers, or by purchasing those plastic items with the BPA-free label. Rubbermaid, Tupperware and the like are still stocking shelves with containers that contain BPA, so please read labels.
While there are many reusable water-bottles and baby food storage containers now available in BPA-free plastics, it can still be a challenge finding safe adult food storage containers
