BPA free Canning Jar Lids

[Attached Mama]

I'm searching for them. Cross posted here and elsewhere on MDC. I know there was a thread about them last year and that they exist. But I can't seem to find them anywhere. Anyone know?

[pampered_mom]

Just bumping up because I'm interested in this as well.

[zeiter]

The metal lids of the Ball, Kerr, etc. have BPA in the coating.
http://www.freshpreserving.com/pages/faq/42.php

The plastic storage caps made by Jarden Home Brands do not contain BPA.



I guess I'm off to the store to buy some plastic lids! Does anyone have any other ideas? I hate buying plastic - we have been plastic-free for a long time. And I've heard they don't have a super tight seal and can leak! Ugh!

Any other alternative ideas?

[PeggyinNC]

I got a few old-looking jars that have glass tops, with metal bands that hold the glass on, but I haven't actually used them much. I thought they were antiques, but I think they have just been made to look antique, so it may be that glass-lidded mason jars are out there somewhere? I dunno. But I can't see how plastic can be much better....*sigh*

[CrunchyFarmGirl]

there are german made jars that have glass lids with rubber rings from www.weckcanning.com

[Attached Mama]

Originally Posted by CrunchyFarmGirl

there are german made jars that have glass lids with rubber rings from www.weckcanning.com

You can also find the old ones at garage sales and ebay. You can purchase new rubber rings for them to seal them. They aren't so cheap as traditional jars tho.

Other than that, you can try the old zinc with porcelain lining caps. But I wouldn't trust what else is in with the zinc and have heard that they aren't good with acidic foods.

Anyway, that's what I found from lots of research...

[motherbirth]

Just curious.. since you leave headspace in the jars when you can, does it matter if the lids have BPA? Can it leach into the food anyway when the food doesn't touch it?

Would it make sense to start a letter writing campaign to Ball and ask them to come up with a substitute for BPA in their jar lids?

[tboroson]

Originally Posted by motherbirth

Just curious.. since you leave headspace in the jars when you can, does it matter if the lids have BPA? Can it leach into the food anyway when the food doesn't touch it?

Would it make sense to start a letter writing campaign to Ball and ask them to come up with a substitute for BPA in their jar lids?

Honestly, that's why I don't worry about the BPA here too much - and especially since I do little actual canning, but use them extensively for dry or refrigerator storage. Ok, my yogurt touches it briefly when I put in the starter with the fresh milk and shake it, but never again after that.

[staceychev]

I saw smaller Weck jars at Sur La Table this week. I didn't see them on their website, though.

[Attached Mama]

Originally Posted by motherbirth

Just curious.. since you leave headspace in the jars when you can, does it matter if the lids have BPA? Can it leach into the food anyway when the food doesn't touch it?

Would it make sense to start a letter writing campaign to Ball and ask them to come up with a substitute for BPA in their jar lids?

I guess I find it surprising that people are so concerned over heavy metals such as lead and mercury, which are naturally occuring and which the body (most) can process in small amounts - but not worried about BPA which the body has no way of processing. I'm the opposite...

If you wash your BPA lined lids in warm water, the BPA leaches; even if it doesn't touch your food, it can offgass into it. If you can with it, it is highly heated and can leach a lot. The caps being banged around can put little dents in the plastic and cause it to leach. BPA has been linked to genetic disorders, behaviour problems, infertility and more. It's in tons and tons of stuff too. So to me, avoiding it wherever and whenever possible is important. I for one would be up for a letter writing campaign.

I also think it's interesting to note that Ball recommends you only use those caps once and dispose of them - despite the fact that they will seal several times in canning. Maybe they know that after being heated that high one time they are toxic ??

[inthezoo]

Originally Posted by Attached Mama

I also think it's interesting to note that Ball recommends you only use those caps once and dispose of them - despite the fact that they will seal several times in canning. Maybe they know that after being heated that high one time they are toxic ??

I suspect they just want more money out of you. I can't imagine they even acknowledge that BPA is a problem.

[pampered_mom]

Lehman's also sells canning jars like the ones mentioned above.

I was actually kind of hoping that there would be a BPA free option to replace the ones that the Ball jars use since I already have quite a few of them and really don't want to have to replace them. I also am canning quite a bit this year so I actually use them as directed.

[Koalamom]

Has anyone found a good canning lid, bpa free? This is so discouraging. I switched over to canning jars from plastic containers. Will I ever win?

[Koalamom]

A couple of my canning lids don;t have the white plastic. are they ok?

[Attached Mama]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

A couple of my canning lids don;t have the white plastic. are they ok?

What do they have??

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by Attached Mama

What do they have??

They are just metal like the tops of the lids

[tboroson]

Originally Posted by Attached Mama

I also think it's interesting to note that Ball recommends you only use those caps once and dispose of them - despite the fact that they will seal several times in canning. Maybe they know that after being heated that high one time they are toxic ??

They do that because when you twist the lid off, you risk denting/torquing it and making it so it won't seal right next time. And the damage might be very subtle, so you might not know it won't seal... until you get botulism.

For dry/cold storage (as opposed to canning), I've begun often lining the lid with waxed paper, because I find that things like kefir begin to degrade the lids and that really freaks me out. I bet you could also paint the inside of those lids with beeswax to seal in the BPA, if you're only using it for cold/dry storage.

I need to hunt down wide-mouthed hard plastic lids, I think. I've found regular size ones, but I use wide-mouth jars for most things. Does anyone know if those plastic lids have BPA in them, too?

[Koalamom]

I just contacted a large canning manufacturer, and they said that were are no canning lids in existence that are bpa free. Some lids have the white coating and some don;t, but they all contain bpa. The bpa is under 2 layers of metal, not the white coating we see. That is just for looks. Even all canned goods are lined with bpa. The only company that uses canned goods that are bpa free are eden foods. Except the cans containing tomato, which will corrode a can without bpa.

[Attached Mama]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

I just contacted a large canning manufacturer, and they said that were are no canning lids in existence that are bpa free. Some lids have the white coating and some don;t, but they all contain bpa. The bpa is under 2 layers of metal, not the white coating we see. That is just for looks. Even all canned goods are lined with bpa. The only company that uses canned goods that are bpa free are eden foods. Except the cans containing tomato, which will corrode a can without bpa.

Yup - which is why I only buy (and pay extra for) canned goods from Eden and why I have paid $7 a jar for canned tomatoes in an actual jar. Actually, Trader Joe's canned tomatoes are not lined with BPA. Also why I have over 40 tomato plants in my garden this summer.

There are links on here above for canning jars w/o BPA, but they are not the traditional kind with rings and lids. They are glass lids with a rubber gasket. I am planning to order some.

[CrunchyFarmGirl]

Do you think it's okay to store food in canning jars (non canned) if I line the lid with a layer of beeswax?