Avoid eating canned tomatoes

Avoiding canned foods never really clicked with me. I never thought, "Hey, maybe I should pass on the 79¢ can of fruit or tomatoes or sweet corn". Being raised on a farm, we had a huge garden which resulted in a decent mix of fresh, home-preserved (either canned in glass jars or frozen) or, as a last resort, canned goods from one of the grocery stores in town.

This tidbit, though, makes perfect sense now that I am a somewhat educated consumer.

The Problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, or BPA, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Studies show that the BPA in most people's bodies exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 micrograms of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The Solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Eden Organic and Bionaturae. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, such as Trader Joe's and Pomi.

h/t