Bisphenol-A, commonly referred to as “BPA,” is a chemical that’s a common component of plastics, existing in everything from the thermal paper receipts are printed on to the linings of metal cans. Four years ago, the Campbell Soup Company, a major seller of things in cans, promised to remove the controversial subtance from its product packaging, and announced that it will phase the substance out by the middle of next year.

While the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t seen fit to ban BPA from food containers in the United States, except for infant formula (where it had already been phased out before it was banned)

Finding a product to line cans is trickier than you might think, since a replacement for plastics containing BPA needs to fit a few important requirements. The replacement material would have to be safer than plastics containing BPA, staying inert when paired with acidic foods like tomatoes.

“We have tested and conducted trials with hundreds of alternatives to BPA lining,” the company’s program manager for packaging said in a statement, “and believe the acrylic and polyester options will ensure our food remains safe, affordable and tastes great.”

The company initially ammounced that it would phase out BPA-containing plastics back in 2012, but doing so turned out to be more complex than the company had anticipated. A replacement had to be relatively inexpensive, but also tested for long-term food storage of 600 recipes or so.

Earlier this year, Campbell Soup announced that it would voluntarily label any products containing genetically modified ingredients distributed nationwide, and not just in any states that require GMO labeling. The company came out in support of mandatory nationwide labeling.

Campbell to Remove BPA from Packaging by Mid-2017 [Business Wire]

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