Since Canada has already listed Bisphenol A (BPA) as toxic and has banned it from baby bottles (way to go Canada for leading the way!), perhaps the government will also move to ensure that our cans are free from this dangerous substance. A study showed that after eating canned soup for just 5 days, participants BPA levels shot up 1,000%!
If I opened up a can and saw rust inside, I personally wouldn’t eat it. You? Right. So, many companies spray a thin layer of epoxy resin on the inside of cans to keep the food fresher longer and to prevent it from interacting with metal, altering the taste and also rusting. Silver Lining? Nope, you’re getting more than the soup you wanted. You are getting BPA. BPA is the key compound in that “helpful” epoxy resin and has been linked in some studies of rats and mice to not only cancer but also to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. It’s a chemical which can mimic human estrogen and which is linked to breast cancer and early puberty in women. Not acceptable.
Here’s what I suggest to start limiting your BPA intake:
Buy glass bottles, not cans. Many food products, especially tomato sauce, are available in bottles as well as cans. Be mindful that the white epoxy on the inside of the metal lid probably has BPA too, but at least it’s not the entire surface area.
Choose BPA-free. Some brands, like the most exceptional, Eden Foods, use BPA free cans.
Start cooking, stop heating. The fact that so much of our diet comes out of cans is scandalous when we are surrounded by such an abundance of fresh food in Canada. Cook in big batches and store in glass containers. You’ll not only protect yourself, but will nourish your body, save money, and protect our world (which needs more TLC than BPA every day!).
Now that you’ve got the goods on canned goods, please share it. We all need to take care of each other!
