Corn from a can? All products heavily contaminated with worrying chemicals
In Salad, for tacos or chili con carne - corn is found in many dishes and usually comes from a can. And it often comes from a can. This is a problem because all cans contain a harmful substance: Bisphenol A, or BPA. It can leach from the can coating into the contents. The chemical is particularly concerning because it can interfere with fertility and acts hormonally. Humans primarily absorb BPA through food, canned food being a major source.
The industry chemical is also present in all the canned corn products tested by Stiftung Warentest, as the consumer protection organization found levels of BPA ranging from 0.87 to 2.22 Euro per 250 grams. Five of these products were in glass and 21 in cans.
Effects on the Immune System?
The lab hired by Stiftung Warentest measured BPA in every canned corn that was tested, and the consumer protection organization classified the amounts as "significantly increased." This is bad news because, in addition to its hormonal effects, there is debate about whether there is a link to obesity or behavioral issues in children. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) even found in a report last year that the substance can have effects on our immune system even in small amounts.
The EFSA therefore drastically reduced the acceptable daily intake (TDI) of BPA that it considers safe - the so-called TDI. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) considers this TDI too strict. Stiftung Warentest follows the precautionary principle and bases its assessment on the TDI of the EFSA. The result: A 60-kilogram person consumes the tolerable daily dose with all 21 canned corn products tested if they eat only 50 grams per day.
In Glass, it's all "very good"
All suppliers of the tested canned corn products claim to use "BPA-free" cans, which are coated without the use of BPA on the inside. A possible explanation for the detected BPA levels is that BPA from the outer coatings is transferred to the inner BPA-free coatings through cross-contamination.
Due to the contamination, all canned corn products were given a "satisfactory" rating, regardless of whether it was organic corn from Alnatura or a branded product from Bonduelle. Otherwise, no pesticides, heavy metals, or mold toxins could be detected in any of the products.
Five organic products scored "very good" in the overall assessment - all BPA-free canned corn from the glass. For example, "Dennree Sweet Corn" (1.29 Euro), "Dm Bio Sunflower Corn" (0.92 Euro), and "K-Bio Fine Vegetable Corn" (1.03 Euro) were able to secure the top rating.
- Concerned about the impact of BPA on nutrition, many individuals seek advice from dietitians or nutrition advisors about alternatives to canned foods.
- The Öko-Test report highlighted the presence of BPA in various cereals, prompting the industry to reassess its use of BPA in food packaging.
- Interestingly, all the BPA-free glass jars of canned corn tested by Öko-Test received the highest rating for nutrition, suggesting that the switch to BPA-free packaging can improve the health profile of these products.
