Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A, BPA, 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, bisfenol A
What it is
An industrial chemical organic compound used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins for food packaging.
Why BOTIA flags it
EFSA's 2023 review found an immune-system effect and put estimated dietary exposure above its new safe limit. Separately, Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 bans BPA in the food-contact materials it covers, with a few exceptions and phase-out periods.
BOTIA CAN
- Identify warnings or disclosures related to the use of plastic food-contact materials.
- Educate the user on potential BPA leaching risks from heated plastic containers.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Detect the presence of BPA in the food itself through label OCR, as it is a packaging migrant.
- Determine if the packaging of the scanned product actually contains BPA or if it is BPA-free.