Canned tomatoes

[MMGerard]

I ventured for the first time into the activism forum to post something about this, but I thought maybe y'all could help me, too:

As we're improving our diet, the next item up for improvement is the use of canned tomatoes. Ultimately, I'd like to can my own tomatoes, but I missed the boat on that this year. I just went back and re-read the EWG study on BPA in canned goods, http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola, and I am convinced I have to work harder to minimize my use of canned goods:

Independent laboratory tests found a toxic food-can lining ingredient associated with birth defects of the male and female reproductive systems in over half of 97 cans of name-brand fruit, vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods.

:Puke

The only thing I buy in cans with any regularity is tomato products. I don't know how to get by without them off-season; I used diced tomatoes in chili, soup, sauces, etc. So here's my thought - though maybe the long term plan is that we all can our own tomatoes, in the meanwhile, maybe we could all ask our local grocery stores to carry 'canned' tomatoes in glass jars? Spaghetti sauce comes in glass jars, why not diced tomatoes? Surely if enough people express concern about the lead and BPA in cans, grocers and manufacturers will catch on that there's a market for more foods in food-safe glass jars.

Would you please join me in asking your grocery store/health food store/ co-op, whatever, to carry 'canned' foods in glass jars? Thanks, mamas!

[Attached Mama]

I think part of the problem is that manufacturers are not making tomatoes in glass. I have only ever seen one brand - shipped from Italy. They are astronomically expensive at $7 a jar of canned tomatoes. They are also more juice than tomatoes.

Most all health food stores carry tomato paste in jars - and those are pretty cheap.

[UUMom]

For in the meantime, I know Eden Foods does not use BPA in their canned goods.

[Periwinkle]

! Eden DOES use BPA in their cans for all tomato products!!

As far as I know, Trader Joe's is the only company that *claims* it does not use BPA in ANY of their cans. However, I'm a little suspicious of this claim to put it mildly because what the heck is it and how do you keep an acidic food like tomatoes from chewing through a different lining and if Trader Joe's has discovered some amazing can liner then why isn't everyone else (Amy's, Eden, Hain, 365 Whole Foods, etc etc ETC) adopting it, kwim?

Also, you CAN find jarred tomato products - Whole Foods and Trader Joe's both carry glass jarred tomato paste, tomato sauce of course, pizza sauce, and also chopped tomatoes.

If I were you, I would buy vast quantities of local tomatoes (you can get a really good price on them in my area this time of year), make vats of tomato product, and freeze them. No stress about botulism that way and Ziploc brand bags do not contain ANY phthalates, chlorine, or BPA.

Also... quick PSA re: glass jars. PLEASE DO NOT STORE YOUR PEANUT BUTTER UPSIDE DOWN! The lids on all glass jars contain BPA and if you are careful, thefood won't really be in contact with it because there is always a space between the lid and the food (that's the vacuum seal). But if you store your glass jars upside down like a lot of people do with natural nut butters, your food will be in contact with the BPA! Along these lines, do not scrape the lids to get off the last bits of spaghetti sauce or peanut butter or baby food, etc. I rinse the lids under tap water and return the lids to the jar. Any of the food "stuck" onto the lids is guaranteed to conain BPA. Hope that helps.

[tubulidentata2]

Does anyone know if Muir Glen canned foods are BPA-free?

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by tubulidentata2

Does anyone know if Muir Glen canned foods are BPA-free?

I do. They all have BPA.

[Periwinkle]

just edited my post above to be more clear about Trader Joes and to give info about glass jar lids & Ziploc bags. HTH

[EmeraldGardener]

Here is a partial list of companies that either do or not have BPA in their cans.
http://organicgrace.com/node/316
It doesn't carry all of the name brands but there are some in there that do not use BPA and that will help you/us on what to look for and ask for in our local stores.
I used to love Bush's baked beans-- but they do have BPA in their can liners and I emailed them and asked them to go BPA free as I will not buy them until they do (and Yes I know that bush's beans have HFCS in them, but the hubby will boycott me if I cut any more foods.. I have to just pick my battles until I can get him fully on board the "good for ya" bus!)

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by EmeraldGardener

Here is a partial list of companies that either do or not have BPA in their cans.
http://organicgrace.com/node/316
It doesn't carry all of the name brands but there are some in there that do not use BPA and that will help you/us on what to look for and ask for in our local stores.
I used to love Bush's baked beans-- but they do have BPA in their can liners and I emailed them and asked them to go BPA free as I will not buy them until they do (and Yes I know that bush's beans have HFCS in them, but the hubby will boycott me if I cut any more foods.. I have to just pick my battles until I can get him fully on board the "good for ya" bus!)

Just wanted to summarize this link. THEY ALL CONTAIN BPA. Except one obscure brand of olives, lol.

I am also fascinated to see the Trader Joe's update - as I just posted above, I am deeply suspicious of any company claiming not to use BPA in their cans.

Bottom line: don't eat any canned food!(except Eden beans and those olives! )

[UUMom]

So it's just Eden beans? I thought it was all Eden products.

There are few companies I love as much as I love Eden foods. They are pretty much, along with Lundberg, my fav American company. They are trying to give us afforable organic foods. Some people will pay the extra and some will/can not. If some complany like Kraft can undercut them, that would make me ill, honestly.

Maybe one could tranfer the contents of the can into glass if they are concerned.

I know I won't give up on a good company, no matter. I trust them.

[Contrariety]

Originally Posted by Periwinkle

Bottom line: don't eat any canned food!(except Eden beans and those olives! )

I really should have bought my mini deep freeze this past summer.

Then I *promise* I'd be good and cook huge batches of beans instead of buying canned beans on caselot sale. Next summer, I swear!

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by Periwinkle

Just wanted to summarize this link. THEY ALL CONTAIN BPA. Except one obscure brand of olives, lol.

I am also fascinated to see the Trader Joe's update - as I just posted above, I am deeply suspicious of any company claiming not to use BPA in their cans.

Bottom line: don't eat any canned food!(except Eden beans and those olives! )

Trader Joe's has *so* much 'organic' food from China it's not even funny. TJ's a huge huge company. They are like the number 1 food supplier in Europe. They own Aldi's, ftr.

Which doesn't mean I won't shop there. I do. But it's not a pure source. There is no pure source. It costs to get food to us. WF also has bulk and other foods from CHina.

If food origin matters to you, check lables, and ask if the food isn't labled. You will get valuable information.

[UUMom]

If anyone purchases items from organic food co-ops, please check your suppliers.

As an example, I tried to buy organic dry beans in bulk, and almost all of the suppliers were from China. (Which means you might want to ask TJ's and WFs about their bulk items. Ask if they check farms yearly etc).

It's good to check your food trail.

[mamadelbosque]

I buy Bionature tomato paste through my co-op. But I managed to can all my diced tomatoes for the year - I think! I had/have 97 quarts & 18 pints of diced tomatoes The only other 'dark spot' on my list of commonly eaten foods is coconut milk. And I just don't know what to do about that. I spose' I could buy whole, fresh coconuts and use that milk... but what a much bigger PITA. So. don't know about that one. Just don't know.

[Attached Mama]

I've heard Native Forest brand of coconut milk does not use BPA. Anyone have "proof" of this tho?

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by UUMom

So it's just Eden beans? I thought it was all Eden products. // I know I won't give up on a good company, no matter. I trust them.

There's no reason to give up on a good company, but this thread is about tomato products and BPA in cans. If you're buying canned food from Eden and it's not beans, it has BPA in the can. I think it's safe to say that ALL of the organic canners - certainly Eden is and also I know for a fact Whole Foods and Amy's are - are actively doing research to look at other linings for cans. There's a lot to figure out there... canned food obviously has a very long shelf life and they need to make sure that an acidic food like tomatoes is not going to chew through the lining in less time than the food's Use By date.

Originally Posted by UUMom

Trader Joe's has *so* much 'organic' food from China it's not even funny. TJ's a huge huge company. They are like the number 1 food supplier in Europe. They own Aldi's, ftr.

I only go to Trader Joe's anymore for some snacky items that only they seem to sell like nuts and whatnot. Oh and their Cod Sticks for the kids. Produce, canned food, etc. No way. I don't trust it, but that's me.

Originally Posted by UUMom

Maybe one could tranfer the contents of the can into glass if they are concerned.

I'm not sure this does a whole lot, especially for tomatoes. The biggest leaching occurs when the contents already in the cans are heated to an extremely high temperature during processing (kinda just like canning at home, only in a factory). That's the problem. Heat + BPA/pthlalate containing plastic = the highest BPA leaching. Yes as an acidic food sits, more leaching occurs, but really most of it is during the processing itself.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

I buy Bionature tomato paste through my co-op. But I managed to can all my diced tomatoes for the year - I think! I had/have 97 quarts & 18 pints of diced tomatoes The only other 'dark spot' on my list of commonly eaten foods is coconut milk. And I just don't know what to do about that. I spose' I could buy whole, fresh coconuts and use that milk... but what a much bigger PITA. So. don't know about that one. Just don't know.

I'm jealous... with no room to grow tomatoes, and organic tomatoes at $3.50 a pound during the height of the season (down to $2.50/lb right now), I just can't afford to do that. I was very tempted yesterday to buy some at $2.50/lb, but it's a huge outlay of money to even make a gallon or two.

As to the coconut milk... how about buying dried unsweetened coconut? Put it in the blender with boiling water, strain and that's coconut milk right there. It definitely creates more dishes, but if you make big batches of it and freeze (or can) it yourself, that should help. I know I can get unsweetened coconut in bulk a couple places.