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To: Justine@SheFinds
From: Sherrie Rosenblatt, Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Re: Incorrect Information in Article, “Nutritionists Agree: The Unexpected Canned Food You Need To Stop Eating ASAP–It’s So High In Sodium”
Canned food is an accessible and affordable solution to the nation’s need for safe, nutritious and quality produce and protein. Therefore, I was confused by the incorrect information that appeared in the SheFinds.com article, Nutritionists Agree: The Unexpected Canned Food You Need To Stop Eating ASAP–It’s So High In Sodium, by Olivia Zavitson.
First let me address the nutritious benefits canned foods provide consumers. Numerous studies have found canned foods are nutritionally comparable or better than fresh options. An analysis, published in Nutrients, shows that adults and children who ate 6+ canned food items over two weeks were more likely to meet or exceed their recommended daily allowance for 17 essential nutrients than those who ate 1-2 canned food items over the same two-week period. Plus, studies conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, University of California at Davis and Oregon State University all concluded that canned foods have similar – or better – nutritional profiles as their fresh counterpart.
Furthermore, canned fruits and vegetables do not contribute high amounts of sodium to the diet. While sodium intake is a growing public health concern, the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans reports only 11 percent of sodium comes from vegetables, including canned options.
The article fails to mention the many benefits of canned foods. For example, the canning process naturally locks in the nutrients and creates a barrier to pathogens that cause foodborne illness. This process obviates the need for preservatives in the canning process.
Even more problematic with the story is the description of BPA use in the food can. First, nearly all food cans, which use linings to protect the integrity of the can, do not use BPA as a component. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Can Manufacturers Institute in Washington State found all domestically produced food cans sampled were lined with non-BPA materials. Can linings protect the integrity of the can, prevent corrosion and provide the highest quality barrier to bacteria, while maintaining quality, flavor and freshness.
To make this entire article credible, it would need to be completely rewritten. Canned foods are an excellent way to receive quality nutrition in a safe container. We encourage you to not scare people with false information from purchasing and consuming these accessible and affordable products.