Tomato Wellness 

Topics

• CANCER
• CVD
• DIABETES
• SKIN
• BONE
• BRAIN
• BODY WEIGHT

Canned Tomatoes ARE Healthy!

There’s lots of confusing information out there on whether canned (or bottled) tomatoes are really healthful. Issues such as BPA, organics, GMOs, and preservation come up for many health-minded consumers. Here are the facts.

Canned Tomatoes are Healthful.

For centuries, home cooks have been preserving vegetables from their gardens to extend the life of nutritious vegetables and fruits throughout the year. It’s an important part of our culinary past; it helped us survive nutritional deficiencies and fight disease. And today, food companies have taken over that job for us, by offering an array of carefully preserved vegetable, including tomatoes. By turning to canned tomatoes, you can enjoy their nutritious contribution of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and the antioxidant, lycopene all year long. In fact, the lycopene is more bioavailable in the form of canned tomatoes vs. fresh tomatoes. Plus, enjoying canned tomatoes—harvested at their flavor and nutrition peak—during the off-season is a much more sustainable choice than fresh tomatoes, which must be shipped long distances.

Addressing Concerns Over BPA

Many concerns have arisen over the safety of Bisphenol A (BPA), the chemical used in the lining of cans. The FDA assessed the safety of BPA in 2012 and stated,

“The Food and Drug Administration’s assessment is that the scientific evidence at this time does not suggest that the very low levels of human exposure to BPA through the diet are unsafe. The agency has performed extensive research on BPA, has reviewed hundreds of other studies, and is continuing to address questions and potential concerns raised by certain studies.”

More research is needed to understand BPA’s health effects; a FDA National Toxicology Program research initiative is expected to conclude in 2015. The FDA encourages the food industry to explore alternatives to BPA. Indeed, the tomato industry has been committed to seeking alternatives, and some companies have switched to BPA-free linings. However, BPA alternatives have not been widely tested and may pose safety concerns too. It’s important to consider that linings were developed to avoid the pitting of cans and the introduction of foreign materials into our foods. Most health experts stress that the healthy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of eating vegetables far exceeds the current risk of BPA exposure. If you are concerned about limiting your exposure to BPA, you can seek BPA-free linings, or choose products canned in jars, tubs, or pouches, or boxes.