Is it safe to drink canned sodas from bodegas and corner stores?
Use caution as a daily habit. Canned beverages can contain measurable BPA from food-contact materials.
What's actually in it
Soda cans use an inside liner so the acidic drink does not react with the metal. Some food-contact linings have used bisphenol A (BPA) or related chemistry.
Bodegas and corner stores sell a mix of major brands, regional drinks, imports, and older stock. The label rarely tells you what the can liner is made from.
What the research says
A 2026 Molecules study tested commercial beverages, including carbonated drinks. BPA was above the limit of quantification in about 30% of samples. Canned beverages had higher detection frequency, while water and glass-bottled drinks had the lowest detection frequency.
This does not prove that every corner-store soda is high in BPA. It does support making canned soda an occasional drink, not a daily routine. When you want carbonation, choose glass bottles or pour sparkling water into a glass cup and add fruit juice. At home, glass drinkware and glass storage are the lower-contact choice.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Analysis of Bisphenol A in Commercial Beverages. | Molecules | 2026 |