What "BPA-free" does and doesn't mean

"BPA-free" means one chemical, bisphenol A, isn't meant to be in the product. It doesn't mean the product is plastic-free, and it doesn't tell you what was used instead, so some BPA-free items use close chemical relatives.

Treat it as a narrow statement about one ingredient. If you want to avoid heating food in plastic, the material matters more than the sticker.

What is BPA and where is it used?

Bisphenol A is a chemical used to make certain plastics and resins. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) names two main food uses:

• Polycarbonate plastic, a clear, rigid material used for water dispensers, food storage containers and reusable drinks bottles. See our page on polycarbonate.
• Epoxy resins, used in protective coatings and linings for food and drinks cans.

The concern is that very small amounts can move from these materials into food and drink. BPA is also one of many substances that could possibly interfere with hormone systems, which the Food Standards Agency (FSA) gives as the reason people worry about it.

What does the label leave out?

A BPA-free claim says nothing about these three things:

• Whether the item is plastic. A BPA-free bottle or tub is usually still plastic, and under our definition it counts as plastic, whatever else has been removed.
• What replaced BPA. Some products use other bisphenols instead, such as bisphenol S (BPS) or bisphenol F (BPF), and the label may not tell you. Many BPA-free plastics are different polymers altogether, but you usually can't tell which from the claim alone.
• Whether other plastic issues still apply. Removing BPA doesn't stop plastic shedding particles. Our guide to microwaving plastic explains why heat is the main concern for containers generally.

We haven't found a UK rule that defines the phrase "BPA-free" on consumer products, so don't assume it has been independently checked.

Are the replacements safer?

For the bisphenol substitutes, the answer is that we can't assume so. Rochester and Bolden (2015) systematically reviewed 32 studies of BPS and BPF. They concluded the two were about as hormonally active as BPA, with effects of the same order of magnitude.

That needs some context. Twenty-five of those 32 studies were laboratory tests on cells only, and the other seven were in living organisms, so they show hormonal activity rather than harm to people at real-world levels. EFSA looked at BPS in 2020 and recommended collecting more data on its use and how it moves into food. It is now preparing a further statement on what information is needed to assess other hazardous bisphenols in food contact materials, due by January 2027.

The fair summary is that swapping BPA for a closely related chemical hasn't been shown to solve the problem, and the evidence on replacements is still limited.

What do UK and EU rules say?

The position differs depending on where you are, and it's changing.

• Babies and young children. The FSA says BPA can't be used on items intended for infants and young children, such as feeding bottles and beakers, because of legal restrictions. So on these products "BPA-free" describes the legal baseline rather than an extra.
• The EU and Northern Ireland. A 2024 EU regulation bans the intentional use of BPA and other hazardous bisphenols in many food contact materials, with key deadlines in July 2026 and January 2028.
• Great Britain. Those EU restrictions don't currently apply, and GB law has no equivalent general restriction. After consulting in late 2025, the FSA has said it intends to introduce restrictions, subject to the usual policy and legislative process.

In short, BPA can still legally be used in some food contact materials sold in Great Britain, for example in some can linings, within existing migration limits.

How much is too much?

Scientists don't fully agree, which is one reason the rules are moving.

• In 2023, EFSA set a tolerable daily intake of 0.2 nanograms per kilogram of body weight, far lower than its previous temporary figure of 4 micrograms.
• Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) disagreed and derived its own figure.
• The UK's Committee on Toxicity (COT) has adopted the BfR value of 0.2 micrograms per kilogram per day, which is a thousand times higher than EFSA's.

The COT also notes that the most recent exposure data predate 2015, so they may not reflect what people are exposed to today. Compared with EFSA's new limit, those older estimates would be exceeded by a wide margin. The FSA's guidance page still says levels detected in UK food to date are not currently considered harmful.

This is about exposure and safety limits across whole populations. It can't tell you anything about your own health, so if you're concerned, speak to your GP.

What should you do when you see "BPA-free"?

• Ask what it's made of. Look for the actual material on the listing. If it's plastic, treat it as plastic.
• Don't pay extra for the claim alone, especially on baby products, where BPA is already restricted.
• Choose glass, steel or ceramic for hot food and drink. That sidesteps the question of which bisphenol is present. See plastic tubs → glass and, for babies, plastic bottles → glass or steel.
• Remember that cans are lined. Plain metal on the outside doesn't mean bare metal inside. Labels rarely say what the lining is, so ask the brand if it matters to you.
• Keep what works for cold storage, and replace worn or scratched plastic with something better when you need to. There's no need to bin everything at once.

For more on storing food with less plastic, see the food storage hub and our plastic-free food storage guide.