| A few weeks ago a friend called me on the phone, rather upset. I hadn't seen her or heard from her in a few years, so to be honest it was a bit of a surprise to get the phone call. She had read news about BPA in can linings and, growing concerned, she wrote to a few companies whose products she bought, including Muir Glen. You may know Muir Glen as a brand of organic canned tomato products but actually they are owned by General Mills. My friend was very upset with the response to her concerns, which was basically: "Too bad, we don't care."
Since then, she's sent me a copy of the letter she received from Muir Glen, which I've pasted below. It's true that BPA is legal for use in can linings in the U.S. but that doesn't mean it's safe or good. Recently, much news has centered around evidence that BPA is not safe - and it's in all of our bodies. There are a few bills in Congress right now aimed at banning BPA and there is a large lobby trying to keep it legal (the food and beverage industry, the aluminum industry, etc).
My response to learning about BPA was to buy a canner and make my own tomato sauce. Sorry Muir Glen, you just lost a customer. I have a hunch my friend won't buy their products again either. Will you? |
Thank you for contacting Muir Glen regarding bisphenol A in food packaging. Bisphenol A is a critical component of protective coatings used with metal food packaging and provides important quality and safety features for canned foods.
Scientific and government bodies worldwide have examined the scientific evidence and consistently have reached the conclusion that BPA is not a risk to human health. Recent examples include comprehensive risk assessments in Japan and Europe and a review by an independent panel of experts organized by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. The can coatings used in Muir Glen packaging comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for use in food contact applications. These coatings have long played an essential part in food preservation, helping to maintain wholesomeness, nutritional value, and product quality.
We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that all of the food ingredients and packaging materials we use are fully in compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements and meet our high quality standards.
We will continue to monitor this situation. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us. Your questions and comments are always welcome. For more information on the safety of metal food containers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration press office may be contacted at (301) 430-2335.
Sincerely,
Brent Taylor |
