Think twice about that canned drink

DURING festive seasons, it is not uncommon for many to reach out for their favourite canned drinks and down cans of beverages in larger quantities as inhibitions disappear and the usual caution is thrown to the wind. While many assume that consumption of readily available canned drinks are safe, there is nevertheless a lingering doubt on the wisdom of this habitual pursuit in the minds of the health conscious individuals.

A 2015 paper published by Korean researchers in the Hypertension journal examined the impact of habitual consumption of canned drinks. The inner coating of cans has a layer of epoxy resin of which one of the components is a chemical compound known as Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA has been used as an agent to harden plastics. In addition to can linings, BPA is found in plastic bottles, plastic food containers and dental sealants. Hence, it is not surprising that in developed countries such as the United States, BPA is detected in more than 95 per cent of the population.

Contaminating food