New epoxy could boot BPA from cans

Abstract

A chemical of concern that first grabbed headlines in 2008 could finally be on its way out of metal food packaging. The substance, bisphenol A, was once prevalent as a monomer used to make epoxy linings for food and beverage cans. Scientists and nongovernmental organizations raised the alarm that BPA’s ability to act as an artificial estrogen in the body could harm reproductive and developmental health. In response, many brands and retailers vowed to replace it. Yet replacing BPA in food and beverage cans proved difficult because epoxy does its job unusually well. It prevents corrosion across all manner of foods and beverages, on both steel and aluminum, and regardless of processing method. Food brands, coatings companies, and can manufacturers spent several years working to develop and deploy replacement linings for steel cans. Eventually they settled mainly on acrylic and polyester formulas. By early 2018, 90% of food-can production used