Co-op Receipts BPA-Free

added 02/28/11

BPA is a controversial chemical widely used in many different forms of products—including paper receipts at some supermarkets.

Our co-op purchases its thermal receipt paper from a supplier whose source is Appleton Papers, which dropped BPA from its formulation in 2006.

An article in The Washington Post (“Disputed chemical bisphenol-A found in paper receipts,” July 27, 2010) pointed out the results of a new analysis done by the Environmental Working Group on the prevalence of bisphenol-A (BPA) in store receipts. Thermal paper, such as that used by printers on cash registers and ATMs, may be coated with BPA, making these receipts a significant route of exposure for consumers. (For information on the study, go to www.ewg.org/bpa-in-store-receipts.)

What is BPA?

BPA is a controversial chemical widely used in products including hard plastic bottles, compact disks, and the epoxy lining of canned foods. Originally developed as a synthetic form of estrogen, BPA has been shown to interfere with the endocrine system and may cause a range of health effects, including reproductive problems and cancer.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reversed its previous declaration that exposure to BPA was safe for consumers (see “FDA Changes its Tune on BPA” in the March 2010 issue of the Co-op News or read the article here).

At the Co-op

At the Co-op, our register, gas pump, and scale receipts are all BPA-free. Our co-op purchases its thermal receipt paper from a supplier whose source is Appleton Papers. Appleton Papers dropped BPA from its formulation in 2006, out of growing concerns about the safety of the chemical.