Crown Prince cites consumer driven motives for BPA free cans
The US-based company currently has 12 products in the marketplace that are BPA free, with recent additions being Yellowfin, Albacore and Tongol tunas, and said it is continuing to convert remaining product lines when the cans become available.
As part of the move, the firm reduced the size of its containers from 6oz to 5oz, which was driven by packers only being able to offer an easy-open lid with the smaller size can,said the firm.
The fish provider began phasing out BPA two years ago but may yet drop some can sizes citing a lack of choices in can manufacturers with tunas packed in Thailand.
BPA is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of epoxy linings in food and beverage cans.
BPA uncertainty
Crown Prince natural products division manager Andréa Linton told FoodProductionDaily.com there was uncertainty over the safety of BPA ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision at the end of the month.
“I think you can argue either way, I have read articles saying severe problems are traced back to BPA lined material and I have read others that indicate the opposite – our choices are consumer driven.
“[Our] customers and the public are active about the issue and it is easier to make our products BPA free instead of waiting for the FDA decision,” she said.
The supplier said because its products, such as salmon, are only harvested at certain times of the year they had to think to the future when considering phasing out the controversial substance.
BPA replacement
Linton said it was “difficult to say” whether any new can lining would become a one fits all solution such as BPA.
“[In] ten years it could have its own problems, that is our fear but we are driven by consumers and are making headway in our brands instead of just sitting around waiting.
“BPA free cans are extremely difficult to source in can sizes that are not frequently used. So the 12oz tuna can will take quite a while for all BPA linings to be removed.”
Linton added the process of removing BPA did not change depending on which type of fish was in the can.
