Is BPA can lining baby food Safe for Babies 0–12 months?
For babies 0–12 months, BPA can lining baby food is best avoided. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in some epoxy can linings and plastics, and very small amounts can migrate into food.
Why this rating?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in some epoxy can linings and plastics, and very small amounts can migrate into food. The FDA stopped authorizing BPA-based polycarbonate resins in baby bottles and sippy cups in 2012 and BPA-based epoxy resins as coatings for infant formula packaging in 2013. For other food packaging, the FDA's 2014 review found an adequate margin of safety at current exposure levels. This entry is precautionary: choose products labeled BPA-free when it is practical.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is not part of the reviewed rating above. Ratings are unchanged.
At 0 to 12 months
Liquid infant formula and some baby foods come in cans, which is the packaging the FDA's 2013 action on infant formula coatings addressed. Pouches and food prepared at home do not involve a can lining at all, and a BPA-free label on a can is the check to look for.
What BPA is and where it appears
Bisphenol A is a chemical used to make certain plastics and epoxy resins, including some coatings on the inside of metal food cans. Very small amounts can migrate from packaging into food, which is how people are exposed to low levels.
What the FDA has done
The FDA stopped authorizing BPA-based polycarbonate resins in baby bottles and sippy cups in 2012, and stopped authorizing BPA-based epoxy resins as coatings for infant formula packaging in 2013. Both actions followed petitions and reflected that industry had largely moved away from those uses. For other food packaging, the FDA's position, from a review of more than 300 studies completed in 2014, is that there is an adequate margin of safety for BPA at current exposure levels, and it has said it will update its assessment if warranted.
Why this entry is precautionary
Our rating reflects concern about endocrine-disrupting activity and a preference for avoiding unnecessary exposure in infancy, which is stricter than the FDA's current finding for packaging in general. If you want to follow the cautious approach, look for products labeled BPA-free, choose fresh, frozen or glass-packed foods when practical, and note that a BPA-free claim describes the can lining and not the food itself. Check the FDA's BPA page for any newer assessment.
In short
In short, the FDA has ended BPA use in baby bottles, sippy cups and infant formula packaging, regards current levels in other packaging as having an adequate margin of safety, and will revisit that if warranted. If you prefer to limit exposure anyway, a BPA-free label and fresher alternatives are easy steps that cost little.
How BPA can lining baby food is rated by age
The same ingredient can carry a different rating as a child grows. These are the ratings for each age group that has a guide for BPA can lining baby food.
| Age group | Rating |
|---|---|
| babies 0–12 months | Avoid |
| toddlers 12–24 months | Avoid |
Other age group
Is BPA can lining baby food safe for toddlers 12–24 months?Sources
- FDA: Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application — regulatory_or_public_health_body
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar, MSc Nutrition, Certified Naturopath & Nutritionist — last reviewed September 27, 2026.
This is general feeding information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about your child's allergies and needs.
Checking a whole product?
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