Where to buy organic diced tomatoes in glass jars

[sahmmie]

Anyone know of a source for organic diced tomatoes packaged in glass jars? I love to make pico de gallo but I've stopped making it since learning the dangers of canned tomatoes. I hate dicing my own. I always end up with seedy mush! Blech.

[aprons_and_acorns]

I would like to know this too. Practically our whole diet is based on canned tomatoes in one form or another! Sad but true, LOL. We use them weekly for pizza, soup, pasta dishes, etc. I died a little when I found out they are considered unsafe by a lot of people.

[Past_VNE]

I would love to know this too. I've changed a lot of what I do in the kitchen to avoid ANY canned goods...haven't used many in the last 9 years....but have even quit tomatoes in the last three years or so. Often, if I'm out of fresh tomatoes, I just do without...and I hate that.

[mumkimum]

I don't see jarred tomatoes much either, but was just going to mention you can get boxed diced tomatoes (pomi? it's an italian brand) almost as easily as canned tomatoes, and I think (not sure, though) that packaging doesn't have the issues canned tomatoes do.

there's an old thread about the canned tomato issue, actually.

[robugmum]

A good Italian grocery might have them.

[treemom2]

For most recipes I use jarred pasta sauce or jarred salsa. I did find these products online that I'm going to try next time I make an order (jarred tomatoes and jarred tomato paste).

[sahmmie]

Originally Posted by mumkimum

I don't see jarred tomatoes much either, but was just going to mention you can get boxed diced tomatoes (pomi? it's an italian brand) almost as easily as canned tomatoes, and I think (not sure, though) that packaging doesn't have the issues canned tomatoes do.

there's an old thread about the canned tomato issue, actually.

Thanks. I may try the Pomi tomatoes. I haven't heard anything bad about boxed packaging. Hopefully that won't be the next big news story!

[sahmmie]

Originally Posted by robugmum

A good Italian grocery might have them.

Thanks! But I'd have to drive 400 miles or more to find an Italian grocery store! I'm lucky to have walmart where I live!

[sahmmie]

Originally Posted by aprons_and_acorns

I would like to know this too. Practically our whole diet is based on canned tomatoes in one form or another! Sad but true, LOL. We use them weekly for pizza, soup, pasta dishes, etc. I died a little when I found out they are considered unsafe by a lot of people.

Yeah, I know how you feel. We love canned tomatoes, tomato paste, salsa, pico de gallo, pizza - you name it - tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes. When I found out canned tomatoes were toxic I nearly lost all ability to function in the kitchen!

Anyone have any tips on dicing your own? I was told you have to peel them first. Ugh! How the heck do you do that? Which type of tomatoes are easiest to dice? I can only get organic cherry or grape tomatoes here which are impossible to dice imo.

[sahmmie]

Originally Posted by Past_VNE

I would love to know this too. I've changed a lot of what I do in the kitchen to avoid ANY canned goods...haven't used many in the last 9 years....but have even quit tomatoes in the last three years or so. Often, if I'm out of fresh tomatoes, I just do without...and I hate that.

Yeah, me too. I really miss tomatoes! I just won't buy canned tomatoes anymore. We don't eat canned anything with the exception of Tuna, and of course that worries me too!

[sahmmie]

Originally Posted by treemom2

For most recipes I use jarred pasta sauce or jarred salsa. I did find these products online that I'm going to try next time I make an order (jarred tomatoes and jarred tomato paste).

Thanks for the link. We use a lot of tomato paste (or we did before I knew about the dangers of canned tomatoes), so this is a good source for that. My kids eat tomato paste on whole wheat crackers with a slice of garlic on top for a snack? Can you believe that?

[Sayward]

Even with jarred tomatoes, isn't there the same concern with the lid? I thought all the lid liners had BPA, which was the problem with home 'canning' (jarring). Anyone know anything about this?

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by Sayward

Even with jarred tomatoes, isn't there the same concern with the lid? I thought all the lid liners had BPA, which was the problem with home 'canning' (jarring). Anyone know anything about this?

The canning jar lids for home canning do have a small amount of BPA but I think for most of us, it ends up being an acceptable alternative because the food doesn't use touch the lid and even if it did briefly, that's no where near the exposure of having the entire can lined with BPA.

[sahmmie]

Originally Posted by Sayward

Even with jarred tomatoes, isn't there the same concern with the lid? I thought all the lid liners had BPA, which was the problem with home 'canning' (jarring). Anyone know anything about this?

Dear God! Please don't give me something new to panic over!!! (Just kidding).

[treemom2]

Originally Posted by Sayward

Even with jarred tomatoes, isn't there the same concern with the lid? I thought all the lid liners had BPA, which was the problem with home 'canning' (jarring). Anyone know anything about this?

You're right, even the lids contain a small amount of BPA in the liners. However, for me, a little in the lid of my jarred tomato products is somewhat acceptable. I mean, I'd rather it not be there at all, but since I try to avoid most other products with BPA, I'm okay with it. I also like to can and we store a lot of our food in jars (leftovers, dry goods, etc. . .). . .I guess I can't flip out about everything just try to stay away from places where it is too much--does this make sense?

[Past_VNE]

Yes, there's BPA in most lids. But the contact surface is VERY low compared to the jar, often it's as close to 0% as you can get. Whereas, in cans, the tomatoes are in contact on the bottom, top and all the way around.

Don't forget that any boxed foods in direct contact also have BPA. Boxed milk, soy milk, boxed chicken stock, etc. etc. are all in complete contact with the BPA liner.

have more to say and have missed the last several replies...babes ready for bed. sorry.

[ledzepplon]

Originally Posted by Past_VNE

Yes, there's BPA in most lids. But the contact surface is VERY low compared to the jar, often it's as close to 0% as you can get. Whereas, in jars, the tomatoes are in contact on the bottom, top and all the way around.

Don't forget that any boxed foods in direct contact also have BPA. Boxed milk, soy milk, boxed chicken stock, etc. etc. are all in complete contact with the BPA liner.

have more to say and have missed the last several replies...babes ready for bed. sorry.

Trader Joe's says their boxed products are BPA free. While there may be some boxes with BPA, I think it's generally a safer alternative.

[mamadelbosque]

Bionature has tomato paste in little glass jars, but I don't know of a diced tomato in glass.

To be perfectly honest, I don't trust Trader Joes word on what is or is not in their products. Other folks on here have emails from them stating that they did *NOT* have bpa in their canned goods from a year or so ago. But of course now they claim to have never said such a thing. So, yeah. Take anything they say with a grain of salt I would.

[robugmum]

Originally Posted by Past_VNE

Whereas, in jars, the tomatoes are in contact on the bottom, top and all the way around.

you mean tins right?

[treemom2]

How about buying dehydrated or freeze dried tomatoes, like these from Just Tomatoes? That could be another alternative. I did notice Bionature had "strained" tomatoes. . .I wonder if that's more like tomato sauce??

Wow, does all chicken stock have BPA in the containers?? Even like Pacific brand?? Ugh. . .what's worse, making my own from factory chicken (all available here) or buying the Pacific broth online with BPA in the box