What’s Hiding on Your Receipts? The BPA and BPS Problem No One Talks About
Every time you grab a receipt at the grocery store, coffee shop, or even the gas station, you’re touching more than just proof of purchase. Hidden on those little slips of paper are chemicals called BPA and BPS. These chemicals are endocrine disruptors, meaning they can mess with your hormones in ways that affect fertility, weight, mood, and long term health. And yet, most of us handle receipts every single day without thinking twice.
What Are BPA and BPS?
BPA (bisphenol A) and BPS (bisphenol S) are chemical coatings used on thermal paper. Instead of ink, the paper is coated with these compounds, which react to heat from the printer and create the text.
The problem? These chemicals don’t just stay on the receipt. They rub off onto your skin and can enter your bloodstream within minutes of contact. Research has linked BPA and BPS exposure to hormone disruption, infertility, early puberty, weight gain, and even higher risks of certain cancers.
What Are BPA and BPS?
BPA (bisphenol A) and BPS (bisphenol S) are chemical coatings used on thermal paper. Instead of ink, the paper is coated with these compounds, which react to heat from the printer and create the text.
The problem? These chemicals don’t just stay on the receipt. They rub off onto your skin and can enter your bloodstream within minutes of contact. Research has linked BPA and BPS exposure to hormone disruption, infertility, early puberty, weight gain, and even higher risks of certain cancers.
Why Should You Care?
Receipts are one of the fastest and most direct ways BPA and BPS enter our bodies. Unlike plastic containers, which leach chemicals slowly, thermal paper transfers them almost instantly to your skin. And since hands often touch food, children, and your face, the exposure quickly spreads.
If you are pregnant or handling receipts frequently at work, the risks are even higher. These chemicals can cross the placenta, potentially impacting your baby’s development.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
The good news is you can make small swaps to limit your exposure:
Say no to receipts when possible. Many stores now offer digital receipts via email or text.
Wash your hands after handling receipts. Especially before eating or feeding kids.
Store receipts separately. Keep them in an envelope instead of your wallet where they can rub against money and cards.
Use safer alternatives at work. If you handle receipts daily, wear gloves or ask your employer about switching to BPA-free paper (though even “BPA-free” often means BPS is used instead).
The Bigger Picture
Receipts are a small example of how hidden toxins slip into our everyday lives. By making mindful swaps, we send a message to companies that families deserve safer products. Every time you choose digital over paper or wash your hands right away, you’re taking back control over your health.
And if you want to go deeper, I’ve created guides to help you uncover hidden hormone disruptors and start resetting your body from the inside out.
Ready to cut hidden hormone disruptors from your life?
Shop the 7 Day Womb Reset Guide or grab my Hidden Hormone Disruptor Decoder in the Kin and Eden shop.
