Fresh soup contained only small traces of BPA
People who eat canned soup should be aware that a chemical used to line the tin can leach into the food and end up in the body, say scientists.
Tests on 75 volunteers revealed the compound bisphenol A (BPA) was readily ingested and detected in large amounts in the urine, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports.
Past studies have linked high BPA levels with adverse health effects.
In the EU the chemical is already banned from baby bottles.
But it is still used in cans as a coating to prevent rusting and keep the food fresh. Some soft drink cans and bottles also contain BPA.
Dr Jenny Carwile, lead author of the latest study at the Harvard School of Public Health, said: "We've known for a while that drinking beverages that have been stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body. This study suggests that canned foods may be an even greater concern, especially given their wide use."
