while we're on the subject of BPA, I thought it would be helpful to post some info I read on New Belgium Brewery's website re BPA:
We understand your concern. There is so much press about bisphenol A these days! We became aware of BPA in epoxy resin can liners during our due diligence prior to deciding on packaging in cans. We looked into the matter thoroughly. What became apparent is that there are no cans whose lining does not contain BPA. The industry is actively looking for alternatives, but as yet, none exist. We still believe the benefits of cans outweigh the potential risk of the liners because the anxiety surrounding BPA seems to have far outstripped the science. For example, The European Unions Food Safety Authority exercises a stricter precautionary principal than our own FDA. EU research led them to increase the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of BPA by a factor of five, from 600 parts per billion per day to 3000 parts per billion.
According to the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., the amount of BPA migrating from can coatings would result in the consumption of less than 0.105 micrograms (0.000105 milligrams) per kilogram body weight per day. This level is more than 475 times lower than the maximum acceptable or reference dose for BPA of 0.05 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day, which was determined to be the safe life-time exposure dose by the USEPA in 1993.
Also, per the European Food Safety Authoritys risk assessment notes, when BPA is ingested by humans its worked on by enzymes, gains a sugar molecule, loses all estrogenic power and is rapidly excreted in urine. But this is not what happens when BPA is administered to rats and mice either orally or intravenously. In each case the metabolic pathways are different, and there is more free BPA and/or other metabolites swimming around. This is, at a highly simplified level, why independent European, Japanese and American risk assessments rejected the studies which claim endocrine disruption.
All that said, we respect everyones right to choose their own level of acceptable risk. In other words, dont worry, Fat Tire will still be available in glass bottles and served out of stainless steel kegs on tap. Thanks for asking!
New Belgium is a well respected, very eco-freindly brewery. so I personally have a lot of faith in what they say. I know that this isn't 100% on topic, but there's so much paranoia out there about things like this that I like to try to alleviate concerns if possible.
