Is it safe for kids to eat from plastic packaging with bisphenol analogs?
Use caution. A 2026 review found BPA restrictions may reduce BPA exposure, but replacement bisphenols can add cumulative dietary risk.
What's actually in it
Some food packaging uses bisphenol A (BPA) or related bisphenols such as BPS, BPF, BPAF, and BADGE compounds. These chemicals can be used in plastics, coatings, and resins that touch food.
Kids eat more food per pound of body weight than adults, so food-contact materials matter more for them.
What the research says
A 2026 systematic review in Foods looked at methods for measuring BPA and its analogs in food and reviewed cumulative dietary exposure after newer regulatory restrictions.
The review found that BPA exposure is expected to drop under stricter rules, but replacement bisphenols can rise. Combined dietary intake of BPA and analogs can produce a Hazard Index above 1, mostly because the tolerable daily intake for BPA is now much lower.
What to do in the kitchen
Use glass, stainless steel, ceramic, or wood for kids' food when you can. Do not heat food in plastic.
Move snacks from plastic packaging into glass or stainless containers at home. For baby food, applesauce, yogurt, and sauces, glass jars are a better pick than plastic pouches for daily use.