Bisphenol A (BPA): EFSA's draft opinion on new tolerable daily intake (TDI) open for comments

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has re-evaluated the risks of bisphenol A (BPA) in food and proposes to considerably lower the tolerable daily intake (TDI) compared to its previous assessment in 2015.

The TDI is an estimate of the amount of a substance (expressed on a kilogram body weight basis) that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable risk. In its 2015 risk assessment of BPA, EFSA set a temporary TDI of 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. In its draft re-evaluation of BPA, has established a TDI of 0.04 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day. The lowering of the TDI results from the assessment of studies that have emerged in the literature since 2013 until 2018, particularly those which indicate adverse effects of BPA on the immune system. In animal studies, an increase was observed in the number of “T-helper” cells, a type of white blood cells which play a key role in cellular immune mechanisms and which when raised can lead to the development of allergic lung inflammation. EFSA's conclusions on BPA are explained in a draft scientific opinion that is open for public consultation until 22 February 2022.

More information: https://connect.efsa.europa.eu/RM/s/publicconsultation2/a0l1v00000E8BRD/pc0109

Contact: ksaari@frucom.eu