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« Chloramine + Lead Pipes + Fluoride = Contaminated tap water | Main | Buying our way to utopia? Not so much. »
Eden Foods: A BPA-Free Pioneer
By Nena Baker, Author, The Body Toxic and EWG Guest Blogger
No one is more pleased to see the hazards of bisphenol A in the spotlight than Mike Potter, father of six, grandfather of four, and founder and president of Eden Foods. His company began using BPA-free cans in 1999, after two years of frustrating negotiations with his can suppliers.
"It's regrettable that the use of BPA has gone on so long," Potter told me. "I've been flabbergasted as I've observed the lack of will on the part of the rest of the food industry to take advantage of an option we created."
The back story on Eden's switch to BPA-free cans for bean products
In 1997, Potter learned that new research was raising questions about the safety of bisphenol A, and that one of BPA's many applications was in the linings of cans. "Being a canner, it got my attention, " said Potter.
He asked his can suppliers - three of them at the time - if bisphenol A was in the cans they were selling to Eden Foods. "I made hundreds of phone calls to these three manufacturers," he said. "Remarkably, I couldn't find out if it was in the cans I was using or not."
The can companies didn't have to disclose what chemicals they were using as long as they claimed it was a trade secret.
"I was flabbergasted that legally, it was none of my business. I had no right to know, as a consumer, a food manufacturer, a parent or grandparent." Two of his can suppliers (whom he declined to name) gave Potter "half information and half answers."
One can supplier, Ball Corp., "ascertained that I wasn't going to go away. They weren't going to disclose specifically what was in the linings of their cans, but they did help me understand the heavy chemistry that goes on to make the linings and how that process leads to bisphenol A."
Asking the "high-school" question: What did you use before?
So Potter asked what he describes as the "high-school question." What did Ball Corp. use before the days of the formulation that results in bisphenol A leaching into canned food? "They told me they used an enamel made from vegetable resins. So I asked: Can I get my cans with that on it, please?"
The answer was yes, if Eden Foods paid 14 percent more for the BPA-free cans. "That's hundred of thousands of dollars a year for us," which is a big deal for a small company in the very competitive food business.
He felt he had no choice
Potter felt he had no choice but to switch to BPA-free cans. "It was the right thing to do. I didn't want BPA in food I was serving to my kids, my grandkids or my customers." Eden Foods didn't promote its switch to BPA-free cans 10 years ago. "At the time, consumers hadn't heard about bisphenol A. The name itself was like Swahili."
But with growing awareness about BPA's laboratory links to recent trends in human diseases - a chilling list including breast and prostate cancers, increases in urogenital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men, early onset of puberty in girls, metabolic disorders including Type 2 diabetes and obesity, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder - Eden Foods recently began labeling its bean cans "BPA-free."
For the moment, Eden Foods tomato products are packaged in industry-standard BPA-containing cans. "The FDA hasn't approved any other type of processing for highly acidic foods," Potter said.
Where there's a will, there's a way
But Potter, who is also involved in the Non-GMO Project, is convinced that "modern industrial chemists can solve this problem" - especially if consumers demand it.
"It's not fun dealing with this stuff," said Potter. "But where there's a will there's a way."
Investigative journalist Nena Baker is the author of "The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being" (North Point Press/Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
You can grab it in paperback starting next week, and listen in to Ron Reagan's 30-minute interview with Nena on Air America, Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
« Chloramine + Lead Pipes + Fluoride = Contaminated tap water |
How about using glass jars for tomatoes and other acidic foods?
Linda, There are some fruits and vegetables for sale in glass containers, and it's my understanding that Eden might go that route. One issue is that glass jar lids often contain BPA in the epoxy seal (including canning jars: http://bit.ly/CwoIm.
Even so, glass is a step above cans that contain BPA.
Even though the lids of glass jars may contain the BPA in the seal...how much is in contact with the food is what is important and generally you leave a 1/2" of room between. I think it's a good alternative.
Personally, I feel that we can never get completely away from toxic chemicals. They are everywhere!!! In the air we breathe, the water we drink and use for bathing and washing, the food we eat and well..... Anyway I heartily thank folks like Mike Potter for their efforts and hope that they will continue. As consumers the best thing we can do is always try to choose the least harmful route and keep praying that things will get better!!!
I love that someone has finally decided that pubic health should take priority over financial bottom lines. I hope that this company prospers from this decision to go BPA free-now I just have to find out where to buy it. Im thinking Whole Foods?
Kelly, Eden beans are available at many natural foods stores, and yes I have seen them at Whole Foods. Also, on Eden's web site they have a store locator tool where you can enter your zip code and find a store near you that sells their products. It's here: http://bit.ly/160nma. Hope this helps!