Does Your Favorite Soda have BPA in It?
I try not to let anything ruin my fun. And I’ll be damned if the plastic toxin known as BPA is going to stop me from drinking soda. But it almost did.
BPA is used in the food and drink packaging industry for its durability and versatility. The risks to health and longevity are enormous though, and have been known since the early 1900’s. Primarily, it throws hormone harmony out of whack, which means it’s a toxic gender bender that can cause women to grow a fuzzy upper lip and men tits. Later, cancer can manifest and claw-out your insides. It’s horrid for babies too.
If You Want to Live Longer, Stop Consuming BPA
“Trace BPA exposure has been shown to disrupt the endocrine system and trigger a wide variety of disorders, including chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, impaired brain and neurological functions, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, early puberty, obesity and resistance to chemotherapy.” – Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org)
BPA is Rampant
Despite the risks, BPA is rampant, even among the organic food industry. And sometimes, it’s used heavily as a lining for aluminum cans. Under certain processing methods, BPA can leach into your refreshing, nostalgic drink. In addition to drinking myself into The Fat Cow Hall of Fame, that’s one of many reasons I quit conventional soda for good. Then I found Zevia brand soda – the first all-natural, diet soda company.
Does Zevia Contain BPA?
Zevia kicks ass. Their flavors model our favorite drinks growing up, and actually taste better and won’t grant you with the usual stomach ache, belly fat, heart disease or cancer that can follow years of use.
But, before I made the Zevia recommendation to tens of thousands via my PC Reality TV Clip titled, 9 Year Old Skips School to Drink Soda, I wanted to make sure it didn’t have BPA. Therefore, just like I did in Over-The-Counter Natural Cures, I paid for third party lab tests to verify purity. And because BPA behaves differently at various temperatures, I tested at room temp. and after 24-hours of refrigeration.
Without seeing the tests for themselves, some people – like my 9 year old daughter – questioned my assertion that BPA was not present in Zevia. Therefore, I wanted to provide the results so they could see them with their own eyes.
What about other Toxins?
As I read the results, I was stoked to see that there was no BPA. I immediately cracked a can of Mountain Zevia and chugged it. Instantly, I was taken way back to hot summer days of chewing Copenhagen and chugging Moutain Dew while swinging from ropes into the Animas River, and nursing hangovers. Then my alter ego stepped in, The People’s Chemist. Dick.
BPA free doesn’t mean safe. Just as there are an endless supply of dorky, natural cure gurus, so too is an endless supply of toxins – you have to know what you’re looking for. In addition to bisphenol-A (BPA), the can industry uses a molecular cousin known as Bisphenol A diglycide (BADGE) 75% of the time! So I tested for that too. My guzzling didn’t skip a bit. Zevia is BADGE free!
Where to Buy Zevia
Being healthy doesn’t require sacrifice, just smarts. Think before you drink. Or simply sign up for my Natural Cures Watchdog (above, right) and let me do all the hard work, while you have all the fun plunging into cold rivers and masking hangovers with Mountain Zevia! Prolly want to skip the Copenhagen.
Drink up. Find Zevia at http://www.amazon.com.
Ellen, 
Sue and 10 others are discussing.1494Toggle Comments
Diz 5:04 pm on June 2, 2011
Interesting!
I am currently travelling in Germany. Just yesterday I heard on the car radio that shops have to take cans and drinks that are packed with a BPA lining inside, off the shelves, here in Germany. They too, found that this is dangerous stuff to ingest, and essentially said the same, you are saying about it in your article!
Keep up the good work!
Cheers, Diz
Lem 8:50 pm on June 2, 2011
What about the “natural flavorings” and “citric acid”? Foodfacts.com lists these as “controversial” and “to be avoided”. I’m confused by all the information, what are your thoughts on this?? Thanks
Mark 9:05 pm on June 2, 2011
Okay, what about testing the other crap on the market that people just love to guzzle: Pepsi, Coke, Mountain Dew, etc. Any tests on them?
Chris 9:23 pm on June 2, 2011
As usal you have covered all the bases and are right on target It was also good to hear that someone else remembers some or alot of good things in the past.
ken 9:36 pm on June 2, 2011
what about beer? should we just play it safe and only drink from bottles
Andrea 10:29 pm on June 2, 2011
Just wanted to say “thanks so much” for doing the research for all of us!!
kathleen parish 10:50 pm on June 2, 2011
So, I am curious whether Zevia coats their cans with something to prevent corrosion of the aluminum can? And is that something safe? Does the soda have elevated levels of aluminum?
Virgil’s Zero root beer comes in a glass bottle.
Thanks,
K
Greg Lohr 11:51 pm on June 2, 2011
I’m not familiar with that company, but most diet drinks are associated with altered forms of sugar that aren’t safe. How do they sweeten their sodas? I quit drinking soft drinks long ago, as there are much healthier alternatives to drink.
The People's Chemist 12:59 am on June 3, 2011
Watch the video at http://thepeopleschemist.com/pc-reality-tv/
They use purified water, stevia, and erythritol, hence, “all-natural, diet soda.”
Twolips Are Beautiful 12:26 am on June 3, 2011
Yes, why not just buy bottled non-alchohol beer for a soda taste WITHOUT any sugar???? Or, just buy soda in a bottle like Virgils, the only true natural soda. Seems Shame, er Shane forgot about that too.
The People's Chemist 1:00 am on June 3, 2011
Zevia is the only TRUE, all natural, DIET soda. No sugar whatsoever. Watch the clip
at http://thepeopleschemist.com/pc-reality-tv/
kelley 2:04 am on June 3, 2011
Once again – awesome work, Shane! We need MORE tests like this and MORE awareness of the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that are tainting our food supply. Shifting to BPA-free containers is clearly an issue that most food manufacturers face, and it is not a small one. Consider the fact that Whole Foods has been warning about BPA since 2005, YET their 365 brand still contains the compound according to recent research. Big bark, little bite? In my humble opinion, I believe we should each follow the rule of “put your money where your mouth is” and reward the companies that make the investment in in BPA-free containers. It is clearly no small financial feat, and according to the current laws of the US government, the American people are NOT entitled to safe, BPA free products or even a rating system that discerns the difference. (Does this wildly piss off anyone else… or is it just ME? Please comment!) I say protect yourself with education. Support the companies that make the out-of-pocket investment to create BPA-free products like Zevia as well as Eden Foods and Wild Planet. And support the companies who inform you! These tests aren’t cheap, yet the information they provide to your health is invaluable. Many thanks to The People’s Chemist!
The People's Chemist 3:18 am on June 4, 2011
Thanks for the show of support Kelley! And you’re right, we’re voting with our dollars and “The People’s Chemist Community” is growing faster than Oprah’s waistline. Together we’re making a difference.
Sue 11:12 pm on June 3, 2011
I sure like the info in your blog but why the coarse language? You don’t need to use that to convince us. Just state the facts and put in the humor by all means, but can the sewer language.
The People's Chemist 12:21 am on June 4, 2011
You’re welcome for the education. Thanks for being such a fan.
Ellen 7:01 pm on July 8, 2011
Doesn’t sugar alcohol cause gas? I had to quit chewing so much sugar free gum because of it.