Creative mom explores how to live a sustainable life with a focus on food.
Jan 06, 2015
Cans lined with bisphenol-A are still the norm, but some companies are working to remove it.
Unless this can of peas came from one of the companies listed here, chances are there's BPA in the lining. (Photo: LSaloni/Shutterstock)
There are many reasons to be concerned about the chemical bisphenol-A or BPA. The Food and Drug Administration says BPA is safe low levels, but other countries take a more cautious approach: Austria, Denmark, Belgium, France and China limit the chemical's contact with food. The FDA continues to study the issue.
Studies have shown that BPA, a plastic-stiffening chemical and synthetic female hormone, can be a contributing factor to asthma, sexual dysfunction, breast cancer, obesity and other health issues. The material is so widely used in in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that it's difficult to avoid. The resin is commonly used as a lining in many canned foods, even though BPA can seep out if it comes in contact with heat or acid.
In response, several companies have removed BPA from their cans, and others have moved away from using it in the cans of specific foods. Here's a list of national brands that produce canned foods that do no have BPA in the lining:
Amy’s: According to a 2012 blog post on BPA and canned food, Amy’s confirmed that it had transitioned out of BPA-lined cans. The company website doesn’t have any information about BPA.
Bionaturae: This company produces mostly bottled foods, but it does have a few varieties of canned tomatoes. None of its tomatoes are in BPA-lined cans.
Crown Prince Seafood: A list of the canned tunas, salmons, sardines and more that are available in BPA-free cans from Crown Prince is on the company’s website.
Eden Foods: The company's canned beans, rice & beans, refried bean, and chili all come in BPA-free cans, but the company doesn't feel there is a suitable can for high acidic foods like tomatoes. It has moved one-third of its tomato products to amber glass, but the rest of the tomatoes continue to be in BPA-lined cans.
Farmer’s Market: Organic canned pumpkin, sweet potatoes and butternut squash are this company’s specialties. The company's cans have been BPA-free since 2011.
Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s has finally put its BPA information on its website. Here’s what the website says:
Most canned fish, chicken & beef (Except sardines, crabs, Cherrystone clams & oysters)
Most canned fruits & vegetables (Except mandarins, hatch chilies, artichokes & olives)
All canned coconut milk and coconut cream
All pet food
Select canned soups & stews: Organic Black Bean Soup, Organic Lentil Soup, Organic Split Pea Soup, and Organic Vegetarian Chili
Trader Joe’s also puts its tomato products and some other products in tetra packs or glass jars to avoid BPA, although the lids of the glass jars do contain BPA that never comes in contact with the food.
Muir Glen: The company doesn’t have any information on its website, but according to a representative from the company who responded to a question on Chowhound, all Muir Glen canned tomato products are packaged using a lining that's made without BPA.
Westbrae Natural: Vegetarian products from Westbrae come in cans that are lined with “food grade epoxy,” not BPA.
Wild Planet Foods: Many of Wild Planet’s sustainably caught seafood items come in cans that do not contain BPA. The cans are not labeled, but the company’s website identifies which of its products come in BPA-free cans.
There's one additional point that should be mentioned. Here, we've focused on BPA-lined cans that contain food, but many beverage cans are also lined with BPA. Beverages like soft drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and even canned beer can be overlooked sources of BPA. If you're concerned about BPA in beverage cans, drink your beverages out of glass bottles, plastic bottles with the recycling symbols #1, #2, #4 or #5 on the bottom, or from tetra packs.
