What Does BPA-Free Mean?

BPA-free is the manufacturer’s claim that a product is made without bisphenol A, which the FDA says is a structural component in polycarbonate beverage bottles and a component in metal can coatings. The label does not say what was used in its place.

That matters because other bisphenols have been studied too. A 2015 systematic review in Environmental Health Perspectives concluded that, based on the current literature, the bisphenols BPS and BPF are as hormonally active as BPA and have endocrine-disrupting effects.

Regulators disagree about BPA itself. The FDA says its current perspective, based on its most recent safety assessment, is that BPA is safe at the current levels occurring in foods. The European Commission adopted a ban on BPA in food contact materials on 19 December 2024, and its regulation also prohibits hazardous bisphenols other than BPA, and hazardous bisphenol derivatives, in food contact materials. Repeat-use food contact articles made with BPA under the earlier rules could be first placed on the EU market until 20 July 2026.

Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.

The sources behind this answer

  • Government sourceThe FDA says BPA is a structural component in polycarbonate beverage bottles and a component in metal can coatings, and that it has been used in food packaging since the 1960s. US FDA ↗
  • Government sourceThe FDA says its current perspective, based on its most recent safety assessment, is that BPA is safe at the current levels occurring in foods. US FDA ↗
  • StudyA 2015 systematic review in Environmental Health Perspectives concluded that, based on the current literature, BPS and BPF are as hormonally active as BPA and have endocrine-disrupting effects. Environmental Health Perspectives, via PubMed Central ↗
  • Regulatory filingOn 19 December 2024 the European Commission adopted a ban on BPA in food contact materials, including the coating on metal cans, reusable plastic drink bottles, water distribution coolers and other kitchenware. European Commission ↗
  • Regulatory filingRegulation (EU) 2024/3190 also prohibits using hazardous bisphenols other than BPA, and hazardous bisphenol derivatives, to make food contact materials, and placing materials made with them on the market. EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 ↗
  • Regulatory filingUnder the regulation, repeat-use food contact articles made with BPA that met the earlier rules could be first placed on the market until 20 July 2026. EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

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