Death of the Can?

Ian Blair Hamilton's HealtheMail: "“I’m not surprised at the findings,” said Michael Potter, president of Eden Foods, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. “One of the ingredients [in Eden’s Baked Beans] is tomatoes. When we use canned tomatoes that our organic grower packs for us, a BPA-containing lining is in the can. All canned tomatoes come in BPA-containing cans. However, beans are a low-acid food, so we can use BPA-free cans for them.”According to the company website, Eden Foods currently packs organic beans in BPA-free steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel lining. These BPA-free cans cost the company 14 percent more than BPA-containing cans, said Potter."

Potter noted that no alternative currently exists to replace BPA-containing cans for high-acid foods. “We have been working with the Ball Corp. for two years, trying to get them to develop and have available a BPA-free can lining for high-acid foods,” said Potter. In the meantime, Potter plans to investigate whether Eden Foods could pack baked beans with fresh tomatoes, which he said would keep BPA out of the final product.Although Annie’s would not comment on the Consumer Reports’findings because they had not yet seen the tests, the company, like Eden, is actively looking for BPA alternatives. “The only Annie’s products that use BPA are our canned Pasta Meals, such as Cheesy Ravioli, All Stars, BernieO’s, Arthur Loops and P’sghetti Loops,” said Aimee Sands, marketing director for Napa, Calif.-based Annie’s.

“At this time, the FDA has not approved a BPA-free can for use with our type of tomato-based products. The BPA is needed in the lining of the cans to prevent the acidic tomato sauce and pasta from reacting with and leaching the metal in the cans.”