Bisphenol F in food: ingestion safety
Moderate risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) General population exposure via receipt handling and food contact articles presents low acute risk but chronic endocrine disruption potential. BPF is weakly estrogenic in cell assays and capable of activating estrogen receptors at environmentally relevant concentrations. Dermal absorption through receipt handling is minimal but gastrointestinal bioavailability via food contact migration is not fully characterized.
What is bisphenol f?
The IUPAC name is 4-ethoxyphenol.
Also known as: 4-ethoxyphenol, Phenol, 4-ethoxy-, P-ETHOXYPHENOL, Hydroquinone monoethyl ether.
- IUPAC name
- 4-ethoxyphenol
- CAS number
- 622-62-8
- Molecular formula
- C8H10O2
- Molecular weight
- 138.16 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCOC1=CC=C(C=C1)O
- PubChem CID
- 12150
Risk for people
Moderate riskGeneral population exposure via receipt handling and food contact articles presents low acute risk but chronic endocrine disruption potential. BPF is weakly estrogenic in cell assays and capable of activating estrogen receptors at environmentally relevant concentrations. Dermal absorption through receipt handling is minimal but gastrointestinal bioavailability via food contact migration is not fully characterized.
Regulatory consensus
2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Bisphenol F. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA | 2024 | Not banned; BPA alternative permitted in food contact materials despite structural similarity to BPA | FDA banned BPA from food contact applications in 2012 but did not extend restrictions to BPF or BPS alternatives. BPF remains in use in thermal paper receipts and other applications. |
| IARC | 2024 | Not yet classified; research ongoing | Limited epidemiological data. In vitro studies demonstrate estrogenic activity at potencies comparable to or exceeding BPA, raising concern for endocrine disruption. |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter bisphenol f
- Consumer Products — Plastic bottles and containers, Food packaging, Plastic toys and household items
- Drinking Water — Leaching from plastic pipes, Migration from bottled water containers
- Indoor Environments — Off-gassing from plastic furniture, Degradation of plastic products
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Bisphenol F:
-
NSF-certified activated carbon filtration
Trade-offs: Does not remove all contaminants. Requires filter replacement.Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
What products contain bisphenol f?
Bisphenol F appears in: Plastic bottles and containers (Consumer products); Food packaging (Consumer products); Leaching from plastic pipes (Drinking water); Migration from bottled water containers (Drinking water); Off-gassing from plastic furniture (Indoor environments).
See Bisphenol F in the food app
Look up products containing bisphenol f, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in food View raw API dataSources (4)
- Bisphenol F as an endocrine disruptor: estrogenic potency and developmental effects (2024) — research
- FDA Statement on Bisphenol A (BPA) for Use in Food Contact Applications; Alternatives to BPA not yet regulated (2012) — regulatory
- Occupational exposure to bisphenols in thermal paper manufacturing and retail cashier environments (2023) — research
- Developmental windows of susceptibility to endocrine-disrupting chemicals: critical periods and biomarkers (2024) — research
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →