A new study links bisphenol A, the chemical that leaches from #7 plastic bottles, with heart disease and diabetes. People with higher levels of bisphenol A in their urine had a greater chance of having heart disease and diabetes. Does this mean bisphenol A causes these conditions? It could, but it also could mean that some other factor is responsible for both or this is just a coincidence. While waiting for the inevitable further research, it seems reasonable to use something other than #7 plastic bottles (unless you know that the ones in the #7 category do not contain bisphenol A). The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association along with a cautionary editorial.
I am honored (hugely) to be the recipient of the 2023 Edinburgh Medal, at which I give a speech as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival. My talk, “Food Politics: Why it Matters Now” is at 7:00 p.m. Information about the Science Festival is here. A Tweet announcing my award is here.