Lyme is Crazy: BPA in canned foods

So now that we're more conscious at our house about genetically modified foods - sticking as close to nature as we can, organic & local to boot, especially when it comes to corn & soy (the most genetically modified offenders), I've turned my focus to the BPA in canned foods. (p.s. for a great post on organic foods & companies you can trust, check out Candice's blog post over as Infectiously Optimistic and for a great post on how to afford organic, head on over to Swizz's Daily Diatribe.)

BPA made it's name a few years ago when it became associated with plastic - especially water bottles. And while the plastic industry has done a lot to go BPA free & label as such, the canned foods market has not caught on. While the can itself does not contain BPA, many companies line the cans with a substance containing BPA to prevent corrosion of the metal. AND it doesn't even have to be labeled! So, I've been researching, trying to find out what is safe & what is not. Here's what I've found out:

Go with cardboard whenever possible. Many brands now package things in a tetra-pak. Pomi tomatoes (which have long been my favorite for their intense flavor) and many soups & broths are packaged this way. A note on Pomi: although they aren't certified organic, they are processed in Italy & follow organic practices. (1) Likewise, Pacific Natural Foods offers certified organic (many gluten free) soups, stews & broths in a tetra-pak.
Eden Organic is a company committed to leaving BPA out of their packaging. Certified organic and non-GMO, their beans, refried beans, chilies, and rice & beans are in steel cans coated with an enamel that does not contain BPA. (2)
Trader Joe's offers most of it's selection in BPA free packaging, except canned mandarins, hatch chilies, artichokes, organic baked beans, soups & stews, and canned sardines, crab, cherrystone clams & oysters). They are working with their suppliers for BPA free solutions. (3) (4) (5)
Edward & Son's offers several brands that are in BPA-free packaging. They are part of the non-GMO project, certified organic, vegan and offer many gluten free foods. All Nature Factor and Native Forest products are BPA free. Enjoy things like coconut water, coconut milk, asparagus, mushrooms, hearts of palm, mushrooms, pineapple, pears, peaches, mangosteen and rambutan. (4) (6)

Why should we care if BPA is in the packaging of our foods? Because Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor, which can mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to reproductive disorders, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma & other negative health effects. (7) Many experts say that the main source of human BPA exposure is leached from the lining of canned foods and drinks. A CDC study found that 95% of adult human urine samples and 93% of samples in children contained BPA - scary! So, stick to the companies who care for your health and you'll do much better. Especially those of us who are dealing with a myriad of other health afflictions - the last thing we need is something else to make us sicker!

(1). Mark's Daily Apple: Are Your Canned Foods Safe to Eat?: A BPA-Free Buying Guide