Bisphenol S (BPS) in food: ingestion safety
Moderate risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) BPA replacement in 'BPA-free' products; similar estrogenic activity in vitro; EFSA evaluation in progress (2023).
What is bisphenol s (bps)?
The IUPAC name is 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonylphenol.
Also known as: 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonylphenol, 4,4'-Sulfonyldiphenol, Bisphenol S, Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone.
- IUPAC name
- 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonylphenol
- CAS number
- 80-09-1
- Molecular formula
- C12H10O4S
- Molecular weight
- 250.27 g/mol
- SMILES
- C1=CC(=CC=C1O)S(=O)(=O)C2=CC=C(C=C2)O
- PubChem CID
- 6626
Risk for people
Moderate riskBPA replacement in 'BPA-free' products; similar estrogenic activity in vitro; EFSA evaluation in progress (2023).
Regulatory consensus
11 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Bisphenol S (BPS). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | 2023 | Evaluation in progress | EFSA evaluation |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 9 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 9 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: SkinSens1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 6.3B (Category 3) (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin corrosion: in vitro / ex vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | eye irritation: in vivo: Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) |
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 s (bps)
- 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 S (BPS):
-
Bio-based polymer alternatives where available
Trade-offs: Performance limitations. End-of-life complexity.Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
What products contain bisphenol s (bps)?
Bisphenol S (BPS) 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).
Why do regulators disagree about bisphenol s (bps)?
Bisphenol S (BPS) has been classified by 11 agencies including EU, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, with differing conclusions. 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. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Bisphenol S (BPS) in the food app
Look up products containing bisphenol s (bps), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in food View raw API dataSources (1)
- EFSA: Bisphenol S — Safety Assessment (in progress) (2023) — regulatory
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 →