3 ms·

nope, phthalate-free cans have been a selling point for a while now. standard for canned beans at Sprouts or Whole Foods

taeric 3y ago
Ok, I'll amend by changing to "majority". :D I'm curious what the implication in not having a lining is. If it isn't needed, why have it on the other cans? I'm assuming it has a decreased shelf life? Edit: I'm a little confused on the reading real quick. I am seeing that most cans are now BPA free, but it seems they are still lined with a plastic?
- forward1 3y ago
  "BPA free" = we changed ~one chemical to avoid the disclosure requirement != it's totally safe.
- skywhopper 3y ago
  The metal in cans would react with certain foods or chemicals in food in often far worse ways than anything the plastic will do. There's likely no packaging material that wouldn't make any impact on its contents.
  - taeric 3y ago
    Right. This was my understanding going into this. I was surprised to hear that there were unlined cans. I'm less surprised to hear we have BPA free packaging.
  - ricardobeat 3y ago
    > no packaging material that wouldn't make any impact on its contents. We solved this many decades ago with a cheap, safe, abundant, recyclable material: glass. Centralized factories and the associated transport and breakage costs ruined it.
    - taeric 3y ago
      I feel unreasonable about it, but this is exactly why I only buy glassed drinks when I can. Luckily, I should drink less anyway.
jdietrich 3y ago
The Whole Foods cans are still plastic coated, they just market the fact that the coating is BPA free. Epoxy has historically been the predominant coating for canned food and drink products, which does contain BPA. Polyolefin dispersion coatings have been available for several years and are now widely used in jurisdictions that restrict BPA in food manufacturing; they are expected to become industry-standard within the next few years due to increasingly strict regulations. To the best of my knowledge, all can coatings are phthalate free. I should also note that not all phthalates are created equal - terephthalates and trimellitates are of considerably less concern than ortho-phthalates.

taeric 3y ago

Ok, I'll amend by changing to "majority". :D I'm curious what the implication in not having a lining is. If it isn't needed, why have it on the other cans? I'm assuming it has a decreased shelf life? Edit: I'm a little confused on the reading real quick. I am seeing that most cans are now BPA free, but it seems they are still lined with a plastic?

forward1 3y ago
"BPA free" = we changed ~one chemical to avoid the disclosure requirement != it's totally safe.
skywhopper 3y ago
The metal in cans would react with certain foods or chemicals in food in often far worse ways than anything the plastic will do. There's likely no packaging material that wouldn't make any impact on its contents.
- taeric 3y ago
  Right. This was my understanding going into this. I was surprised to hear that there were unlined cans. I'm less surprised to hear we have BPA free packaging.
- ricardobeat 3y ago
  > no packaging material that wouldn't make any impact on its contents. We solved this many decades ago with a cheap, safe, abundant, recyclable material: glass. Centralized factories and the associated transport and breakage costs ruined it.
  - taeric 3y ago
    I feel unreasonable about it, but this is exactly why I only buy glassed drinks when I can. Luckily, I should drink less anyway.

jdietrich 3y ago

The Whole Foods cans are still plastic coated, they just market the fact that the coating is BPA free. Epoxy has historically been the predominant coating for canned food and drink products, which does contain BPA. Polyolefin dispersion coatings have been available for several years and are now widely used in jurisdictions that restrict BPA in food manufacturing; they are expected to become industry-standard within the next few years due to increasingly strict regulations. To the best of my knowledge, all can coatings are phthalate free. I should also note that not all phthalates are created equal - terephthalates and trimellitates are of considerably less concern than ortho-phthalates.