On July 28, 2016 the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published a statement regarding the migration of cyclo-di-BADGE (CdB) from food cans into oily foods. The statement dates back to April 15, 2016. CdB consists of bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) and bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE, CAS 1675-54-3). CdB is a non-intentionally added substance (NIAS) formed as a by-product during the manufacture of epoxy resin which is used in the coatings of food cans. The Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office Münsterland-Emscher-Lippe (CVUA-MEL), Germany, found up to 2 mg CdB per kg food in canned oily fish. BfR assumes that CdB breaks down into linear molecules, similar to BADGE which is neither genotoxic nor carcinogenic. On the contrary, CdB was previously described as a stable molecule, with the potential to accumulate in the human body, but also susceptible to metabolic degradation. According to in vitro tests, CdB is cytotoxic and therefore absorption by mammalian cells is considered likely. Further, in silico calculations indicated that CdB can bind to the estrogen receptor (ERβ) and to the progesterone receptor (PR). Applying the OECD QSAR Toolbox, CdB falls into Cramer Class III for which the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) is 90 µg/person/day. BfR concluded that this TTC is not exceeded at an average consumption of canned oily fish. However, at above average consumption the TTC can be exceeded which may result in adverse effects for human health. BfR recommends generating experimental data on genotoxicity and subchronic toxicity in order to show that the migration of CdB into food is of no safety concern – given that epoxy resin is continuously used in can coatings.
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BfR (April 15, 2016). “Epoxidharz-Beschichtungen von Konservendosen: Stoffübergänge in ölhaltigeLebensmittel sind möglich.” (pdf; in German)
