You buy a can of beans or tomatoes with no preservatives and that seems like a healthy choice, right? It may even be organic. But, if the can is not BPA-free, the health consequences can be disastrous.
Why? BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical used in plastics and as a resin in cans. It has been found to be dangerous and has been banned in all baby items in the US, but still appears in many other products. BPA contains xenoestrogens, which mimics estrogen, causing dangerous levels of estrogen in the body. Consumption can cause neurological damage, cancer (especially prostate and breast), hormonal disorders (PMS, menopause, infertility), thyroid disorders, pregnancy
complications and birth defects, hyperactivity in children, and weight gain.
Swapping frugally: This is a swap that I am currently implementing myself. The cheapest solution for beans is to cook a large batch of beans http://www.ehow.com/how_5225_cook-beans.html, then freeze individual servings in glass jars. I’d like to start buying tomatoes on sale, peeling and chopping them and then freezing them in glass jars. Making and freezing your own soups and marinara sauces are also an idea. If you prefer the convenience of canned food, I’ve found that all Muir Glen products (tomatoes, sauce, soups, etc.) , Eden Foods beans, and Trader Joe’s beans, fish, corn, poultry and beef are BPA-free. Many of these can be found at most grocery stores or online (see links below). Muir Glen and Eden Foods often have coupons that can be found online (coupons.com, mambosprouts.com, wholefoods.com and their company websites). In fact, by pairing coupons with a sale, I’ve gotten Muir Glen pizza sauce, tomato sauce, soups and tomatoes free. Buying these on Amazon with their Subscribe and Save program can also save you a bundle. If you purchase 5 Subscribe and Save items in a month, you’ll receive a 20% discount off of the entire order. Plus, Amazon often has e-coupons you can pair with this. Another option is to purchase these type of products in glass containers or paper packaging. I’m still researching other products that are BPA-free and will update this list as I find them. I’ve heard that Campbell’s will soon introduce BPA- free products, if only they’d work on the ingredients they use!
With these topics there is more information than can be fully covered in one post. Please leave a comment below with any questions and stay tuned for more information in future posts.
