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November 8, 2016

Is Canned Food Healthy? Why to Avoid Cans

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Last Updated on January 23, 2023

Is canned food healthy? So many healthy foods come conveniently packaged in cans, but it turns out you may be eating some decidely unhealthy ingredients with your beans and diced tomatoes!Is canned food healthy? Cover photo closeup of can with text overlayIs canned food healthy? It would be if it weren’t for one thing…

Metal cans seem innocuous enough, right? Generally inert metal is a good choice for food storage.

But did you know most metal cans are lined with plastic that can leach harmful chemicals into your canned food?

So many healthy foods, like beans, diced tomatoes, and vegetable soups, come conveniently packaged in cans.

If you have a pantry stocked with these seemingly healthy ingredients, you won’t be happy to hear that you’re probably getting a hefty dose of BPA and other plastics with your otherwise healthy ingredients.

According to a recent report by a coalition of nonprofits (including the Breast Cancer Fund and Campaign for Healthier Solutions), a whopping 70% of cans are still lined with BPA!

A 2016 study suggests that canned soups and pasta are especially likely to raise the levels of BPA in our bodies.

Some manufacturers have replaced BPA in can linings, and others have pledged to phase it out. So then is canned food healthy?

‘Fraid not.

It’s critical to understand that “BPA free” does not equal safe! 

Mounting research suggests that BPA substitutes may be just as or even more harmful to human health: A common BPA-replacement, BPS, may actually have even more significant impacts on our hormones and our health.

Other “regrettable substitutes” for BPA have not been adequately studied for safety. Authors of a 2014 study note that “the lack of safety data and unknown additives mean we have no reliable data attesting to the safety of these compounds.”

The study found that of the more than 6000 chemicals currently used in food packaging, 175 are “chemicals of concern,” which means that scientific evidence has linked them to health problems like reproductive and developmental problems, neurotoxicity, or cancer.

Little is known about what happens when these chemicals come in contact with food.

Is canned food healthy? photo of numerous open soda cans

Is Canned Food Healthy? The Health Impacts of Plastics in Our Food

Many of these compounds have been labeled obesogens, substances that disrupt the way our hormones, particularly those related to metabolism, function in our body.

Why is this a big deal? Because they may be at the root of our public health crisis, predisposing people to obesity and a number of other metabolic disorders, including diabetes.

Even more worrisome: Research suggests that in utero exposure may set up not only our babies, but our babies’ babies, for a lifetime of battling obesity, thyroid disorders and other preventable chronic diseases.  

When we’re exposed to these pernicious compounds at certain times in our development, our genes seem to be altered, and we pass those changes down to our kids, and to their kids.

So not only are you what you eat, but your grandchildren might be too! Your food choices may affect far more than just your own health.

An Easy Way to Reduce Your Chemical Exposure: Avoid Canned Food

Is canned food healthy? aisle of soup cans

While it is impossible in this day and age to avoid industrial chemicals completely — they’re in our food, water, and air — there’s a lot you can do to limit what’s known as your body burden, the “toxic load” your bodily systems have to deal with.

A great first step? Ditch the canned goods (or bads, as the case may be).

Related: What’s in Your Beauty Products? How to Reduce Chemical Exposure

This simple step will significantly reduce the industrial chemicals in your next meal. Many of these compounds (like BPA and phthalates) are easily excreted, so once you stop eating them, your levels will drop. One study found that a low-plastic diet dropped participants’ levels of BPA and a common phthalate up to 95%.  

How to avoid canned food and dangerous chemical additives:

  • Choose fresh, whole foods whenever possible. In the case of beans, cook from dry, which will also save you money. (You can also make your own pumpkin puree, and skip those ubiquitous plastic-lined cans of pumpkin.)
  • Opt for glass if you have the choice. You’ll find more and more manufacturers packing their food in glass rather than plastic or plastic-lined cans. Here are other ways to get started with zero waste living.
  • Cook from scratch. Homemade soups are healthier for you in numerous ways — you control the ingredients and the sodium in addition to avoiding leached-out plasticizers. Here are easy recipes for homemade split pea soup and hearty vegan white bean soup to get you started.
  • Give up your soda habit. Whether sugary or “diet,” you know all those artificial flavors and colors aren’t good for you. The plastics in your fizzy drink is just one more reason to say no to soda. (Did you know diet soda has been linked to weight gain?)  If you must buy a bottled beverage, choose one packed in glass. Or consider making your own soda from seltzer with a splash of juice or a wedge of lime. (My favorite soda maker now has glass bottles!)  Or develop a healthy tea habit. The benefits of nettle tea are impressive, or give refreshing hibiscus tea a try. Once again, you’ll save money while you avoid chemicals and shrink your foodprint. 

Related: Plastic Alternatives to Help You Break Free From Plastic

Canned food is just one way we inadvertently expose ourselves to harmful chemicals. There are at least 8 other ways you’re probably bringing unwanted chemicals into your home. Get my FREE checklist, 9 Steps to a Less Toxic Home when you sign up for weekly updates from HealthyGreenSavvy. Fill in the form here to get it.

Do you eat a lot of canned food? How do you feel about giving it up? Share in the comments!

Pin to save “Is canned food healthy?” for later!

is canned food healthy? photos of canned soup and soda can with title text

Photo credits: Michael Scheltgen, Your Best Digs, Matthew Hurst via Flickr

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Susannah

Susannah is a proud garden geek and energy nerd who loves healthy food and natural remedies. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. Her first book, Everything Elderberry, released in September 2020 and has been a #1 new release in holistic medicine, naturopathy, herb gardening, and other categories. Find out more and grab your copy here.

Filed Under: Non-Toxic Living Tagged With: avoiding chemicals, healthy eating, non toxic

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Comments

  1. Katy SkipTheBag says

    November 19, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    I think it’s really important that people realize that BPA-free doesn’t mean it’s safer. Thanks for this post to help educate and provide alternatives! Thanks for sharing on the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Easy Homemade Pea Soup Recipe - HealthyGreenSavvy says:
    November 15, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    […] I am a huge fan of nourishing soups on cold winter nights. One of my absolute favorites is homemade split pea. If you’re still buying canned split pea soup, I beg you to stop! You’re wasting money, it doesn’t taste nearly as good. plus you’re getting who-knows-what kind of plastic compounds from the can linings! (Read about why it’s a good idea to avoid canned foods in this post.) […]

    Reply
  2. 75 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes - HealthyGreenSavvy says:
    November 24, 2016 at 2:32 pm

    […] Avoid cans when you can! If you’re making a pumpkin chili with beans, I think it’s best to make them from dried, soaking them beforehand — you get to avoid whatever seeps into food from can linings, just like with pumpkin. […]

    Reply
  3. Health Benefits of Potassium - HealthyGreenSavvy says:
    December 17, 2016 at 8:10 am

    […] it contains. Bake, saute, or steam vegetables to preserve potassium. Also watch for sodium in canned foods like beans and tomato products, as the balance of sodium and potassium in your diet is […]

    Reply
  4. 50+ Healthy & Delicious Bean Recipes - HealthyGreenSavvy says:
    December 17, 2016 at 10:12 pm

    […] possible, use dried rather than canned beans. As I’ve written before, cans are usually lined with plastic of some sort, which may leach BPA and other harmful compounds into your healthy […]

    Reply
  5. Wild Rice Recipes ~ Healthy Grain-Free Salads, Soups, Sides! - HealthyGreenSavvy says:
    June 2, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    […] that didn’t call for the traditional canned soup (no thanks — here’s one of many reasons to avoid canned food) was a chicken and wild rice casserole from Well Plated. Wild rice goes wonderfully with sweet […]

    Reply
  6. 18 Vegan Essentials for Your Cupboard - meman mevegan says:
    July 7, 2018 at 12:51 am

    […] The charity Veganuary offers a helpful guide here.   Vegan Approved Label   Avoid canned food. I know this is not always realistic and I also use canned goods every now and then simply for […]

    Reply
  7. Top Vegan Protein Sources for Plant-Based Eating | HealthyGreenSavvy says:
    March 14, 2019 at 10:00 am

    […] ♦ Whenever possible, buy your beans dry and cook them yourself. You’ll save a lot of money and avoid the chemicals found in canned food. […]

    Reply
  8. How Much Sugar Per Day is OK? | HealthyGreenSavvy says:
    March 29, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    […] It’s likely in your pasta sauce, salad dressing, bread, and canned soup. (Here’s why you should be avoiding canned food anyway.) […]

    Reply

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