LOS ANGELES, CA (Change.org) — Thousands of people have joined a campaign on Change.org demanding that Campbell Soup Company remove bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting chemical linked to cancer and diabetes, from its soup cans.
Healthy Child Healthy World, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that helps parents protect kids from toxins, launched the online campaign on Change.org and has recruited more than 3,000 people to join, many over the last 24 hours.
"With studies linking BPA to many serious illnesses that can be heartbreaking to families, it only makes sense that we start eliminating it from our daily lives,” said Rachel Sarnoff, executive director of Healthy Child Healthy World. “We supported the ban on BPA in baby bottles that’s been adopted by many states, but older children also need protection from BPA's potential health risks. It's time to help companies like Campbell's understand how important it is for us as parents to get BPA out of our cans – and our kids."
A growing number of studies link BPA exposure to health problems like cancers, diabetes, early-onset puberty, behavioral issues, and obesity, and suggest that children are especially vulnerable to the health risks posed by BPA. A recent report from the Breast Cancer Fund found high levels of BPA in canned foods geared specifically towards children, like Campbell’s “SpaghettiOs with Meatballs” and “Disney Princess Cool Shapes” soup.
The campaign on Change.org is likely to increase pressure on Campbell Soup Company, with more than 3,000 supporters and more joining every hour.
“Healthy Child Healthy World’s campaign to Campbell’s has become extremely popular very quickly,” said Sarah Parsons, senior organizer at Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change. “Every minute, the number of campaign supporters rises. The folks at Healthy Child Healthy World have clearly touched a nerve and launched a campaign that resonates with people across the country.”
Canned food producers like Hain Celestial, H.J. Heinz, and ConAgra — owner of brands like Chef Boyardee and Hunt’s — have announced plans to remove BPA from food packaging and have started using BPA-free can linings for some of their products. Campbell’s has not announced any plans to eliminate BPA from its can linings.
