The latest tests for BPA levels in canned foods are very unsettling. BPA, if you remember, is a chemical that mimics estrogen in the body, causing numerous health problems. It is used extensively in the plastics industry. In the food industry, BPA is used in the lining of food and drink cans (including soda!). Alarmingly, cancer and infertility have both been linked with BPA.
The National Workgroup for Safe Markets has recently reported that canned foods, many of which are labeled “organic”, were found to have an average of 77 parts per billion (ppb) of BPA, almost 5 times higher than what the FDA found testing BPA levels in canned food back in 1996. 92% of the samples tested contained measurable levels of BPA.
The report, aptly titled No Silver Lining, found no link between the age of the product and BPA levels. Moreover, price, quality, or nutrition value of the product had absolutely no bearing in the levels of BPA detected. Therefore, organic canned foods were found to be just as likely to be loaded with BPA as cheap nonorganic ones.
This report puts additional pressure on manufacturers who must step up efforts to hasten implementation of alternatives to canning, such as glass jars. In the meantime, consumers beware. Canned foods need to be avoided even more urgently than we thought. I will be switching away from canned coconut milk immediately. I have already switched to a brand of organic tomato products which use glass jars instead of cans.
Please comment with any brands you know of that are utilizing alternative packaging to cans. BPA has shown itself to be a chemical that we cannot take any chances with in any amount.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
I get tuna from pouches, all the major brands sell it this way now. Also, I buy tomatoes from Pomi, a brand which sells the tomatoes in packages similar to juice boxes. I can't find a source for tomato paste, though. Any ideas?
Hi Margaret, yes I'm switching to Native Forest. I special ordered a case at my local healthfood store a few days ago. It should arrive this week. If you haven't seen it, just special order it. Most healthfood stores are ok with this and you get a 10% discount on top of it when you buy a case (12 cans).
Sarah, have you decided which coconut milk you are switching to? I just bought more of the Thai Kitchen brand and it made me think of this blog entry. I have never seen the Native Forest brand.
Unless I missed some form of it (with a bovine-dairy allergic mother that is quite rare) the So Delicious coconut milk contains additives. At least the ones, including the plain, I found in the dairy section of Whole Foods did. Is there another version I missed?
my understanding is that Eden is BPA-free EXCEPT in their tomato products. If someone knows otherwise, I'd love to be corrected.
Or just buy the chick peas in the bags (Goya for example) and Coconut Milk in the cartons (All Natural So Delicious Brand).
Eden Beans and Native Forest Coconut Milk are in BPA-free cans.
Rick, thanks for the BPA free tuna ideas. Megan, I'm going to call Thai Kitchen and see if this company has any plans to go BPA free anytime soon.
As a concerned mother and a natural foods enthusiast I have looked carefully into the BPA issue and have found the risks as reported by the media to be greatly exaggerated when compared to the actual study results. I am cautious about accepting at face value ANY claims made by the mainstream media, and in terms of BPA as a health crisis, I find very little evidence to support the claim and quite a bit of evidence to counter it. I don't work for a pro-BPA company or receive any benefit from anyone. I'm a stay-at-home mom who wants to do best by my family. We raise our own beef, we garden our own veggies, we have our own fruit trees, etc. I am earnestly doing my best to feed my family well and am willing to go to effort to do so. I only urge you to look closely and study the facts (all the facts) before you jump on any health crisis bandwagon. This article might be a good place to start.
Remember when butter was evil, eggs were harmful, and breastfeeding was passe? This is the same media machine. Just be wary of believing everything you read.
Sarah–if you find an alternative to the Thai Kitchen canned coconut milk please let me know. Since we are weaning Mia, I really need to find something suitable for her! I'd be willing to split a bulk order with you too if we need to order online!