In July several media outlets including Fast Company, Science News, and USA Today reported a new source for Bisphinol A or BPA exposure – store receipt paper. BPA is a toxic chemical that has been shown to mimic the body's hormones leading to possible health concerns. Plastic water bottles, children's toys, and aluminum cans have all been under fire for quite some time due to their high BPA levels and potential consumer health threat.
Skin Exposure
Further BPA news surfaced when The Environmental Working Group discovered several top retailers using BPA laden store receipts. Among the list were CVS, McDonalds, Safeway, Walmart and Whole Foods. The real danger showed that the handling of this paper led to BPA skin absorption.
Demand BPA-Free
Personally I was shocked to see that a green company such as Whole Foods made the list so I decided to investigate the issue further. According to headquarters, management at Whole Foods has been transitioning all of its stores to BPA-free receipt paper. We must realize though that this process can take time to accomplish. Whether you shop at Whole Foods or elsewhere, you must use smart shopping tactics to protect your health.
Detection of BPA-free Receipts
Earlier this month the only manufacturer of thermal BPA-free paper announced that small red fibers will be on the back of these receipts. This way both shoppers and cashiers will immediately know what they are handling. By the end of November, all retailers who chose BPA-free thermal paper will have these receipts for use.
As consumers we will have to determine if these small red fibers help make our shopping experience more pleasant. For instance, will the fibers be easy to detect? Or will we have to physically hold the receipt in order to see them? If nothing else, this is a terrific move in the right direction.
Smart Shopping Tactics
Even with this new BPA marker, we need to continue to be smart and savvy when handling receipts. If you are a cashier, wearing gloves at the register is an excellent safety tactic. If you are a consumer, ask for the receipt in the bag to avoid unnecessary exposure. For a complete set of tips, visit The Environmental Working Groups helpful list. If you are concerned that your favorite retailer is not using BPA-free paper, suggest that they contact Appleton to switch up their supply.
Lastly, if you are concerned about BPA exposure through store receipts or elsewhere, Healthful Direction does offer an environmental testing panel to determine your current toxic load with a breakdown of the most common environmental substances. Through simple yet effective detoxification measures, these levels can go down so that your full health is restored.
In Health,
Alison Held, MS
Clinical Nutritionist
Our eating habits can easily fall short this time of year. Putting some quick and easy methods to work will help you better manage the stress and create more peace of mind during this hectic holiday season.
