If you do not see the Temper Tantrum video on your screen, click here.
"The trick is to get the child past the peaks of anger. Once you do that, what's left is the sadness, and sad children reach out for comfort.
The quickest way past the anger--is to do nothing.
Don't shout, don't hit, don't try to comfort the child. But, when a child is screaming it's hard to do nothing.
[W}hen children are at the peak of anger and they're screaming and they're kicking, probably asking questions might prolong that period of anger.
When I'm advising people about anger I say, 'There's an anger trap. Even asking questions can prolong the anger--and the tantrum.'
It's difficult for them to process information--they're overwhelmed. And to respond to a question that the parent is asking them may be just adding more information into the system than they can really cope with.
It's better to keep things simple. Issue short commands like, sit down, go to your room.
Understanding that tantrums have a rhythm can not only help parents know when to intervene, but also give them a sense of control."
-Psychologists Michael Potegal & James Green, "Screaming, yelling, whining, and crying: categorical and intensity differences in vocal expressions of anger and sadness in children's tantrums," Emotion 2011 Oct;11(5):1124-33-
If you received this post via email, click here to get to the web version with the links & the temper tantrum video!
Anyone Can Have a Temper Tantrum
OK--so, you don't have kids, or your kids are all grown. You have zero interest in tantrums. Why read this post?
Because---the advice you'll find here can apply to your boss, your spouse, or your friends. Anyone who's overwrought, frustrated, tired, hungry, angry and needs to vent! Sure, with adults there's no kicking or screaming--but sometimes it's not a far stretch to substitute the word "venting"--for a "tantrum".
Toddler Tantrums Deconstructed
Would I be so ga-ga about research on tantrums if I weren't a grandparent--and dealt with a few toddler melt-downs myself? Probably not!
But, you don't have to be a parent or a grandparent to experience the "horror show" of a full-blown temper tantrum. Think grocery store lines, airplanes, or restaurants.
It's happened to all of us--and it can make us feel as helpless as the screaming & kicking child who's having the tantrum. And by the way--all kids have tantrums.
"Small kids just have tantrums. Some have lots of them. Tantrums may be traumatic for parents, but they're mostly normal behavior. So science hasn't paid much attention to them--until now." (NPR)
But, if psychologists Potegal & Green are right--and I sure hope they are--there's both parental power & a sense of control when you know that all tantrums follow the same pattern--and if you know exactly when to ignore them, and when to intervene--a tanturm becomes easier to endure.
"[W]hen looked at scientifically, tantrums are no different than thunderstorms or other natural phenomena. Studying them as scientific subjects, rather than experiencing them like parents can cause the tantrums to stop feeling traumatic and even become interesting." (NPR) Really????
My Temper Tantrum "Ah Ha" Moment!
When I heard the NPR story yesterday morning I had an AH HA moment!
Isn't a toddler's temper tantrum something we can all relate to?
When we're REALLY REALLY UPSET or REALLY REALLY ANGRY (of course, I never am) we just want to have our say--and have someone listen to it--and not interrupt us.
- We don't want anyone to shut us up.
- We don't want any sympathetic coddling.
- We don't want to hear anyone's advice or solution to our problem.
- We don't want to hear logic.
- We don't want to be comforted.
- We just want to be heard, to vent, & release anger & frustration
- Only when we get our proper say, are we ready for hugs, comfort, & to listen to reason.
BTW--it only took me about 30 years of marriage to learn to just close my mouth & listen when my husband was having the equivalent of a grown-up's temper tantrum. Plenty of time to talk & comfort after he's had a chance to vent!
Thanks to Michael Potegal of the University of Minnesota, & James Green of the University of Connecticut, who studied & recorded over one hundred temper tantrums--there just may be an easy technique for dealing with the terrible two's & meltdowns.
How crazy is this? Potegal & Green devised a onesie with a wireless microphone. Then they convinced parents to put the onesie on their kids--& hit the GO button, so they could record all that tantrum screaming, crying, wailing, & whining.
Potegal & Green say most temper tantrums follow the same pattern--the build up is quite quick--to a peak of anger--but then the child exhausts himself & what's left is a child who wants to be comforted.
The Play-By-Play Analysis of a Tantrum
NPR: (commenting on the video) It looks like the tantrum is escalating. But, in fact, what the new theory suggests is exactly the opposite.
Green: (speaking about the child in the video) Once she's thrown herself on the floor and thrown something, or in this case, knocked the chair against the wall, we're probably on the down slope of this tantrum. She's spent a lot of energy; screaming, yelling and now doing these physical behaviors.
NPR: The scream was a peak. No one can stay that angry for long - it's exhausting. I asked Green what sounds he expected next from Katrina (the child in the video).
Green: Probably something...like crying or whining. There's been so much energy expended. The child knows that they've been out of control. That leads to a sense that they'd like some comfort from their parents.
NPR: This tantrum from scream to whimper took only a minute. But, Green & Potegal argue that no matter how long tantrums last or how often they occur, they follow the same pattern.
The Three Phases of a Tantrum
Phase I: Yelling & screaming. Associated with a high degree of anger. That's how tantrums start, especially if there's a goal the parent has in mind that's different from what the child has in mind.
Phase: 2: Physical actions. Throwing oneself on the floor or throwing something. This signals the downslope of the tantrum. The child has spent a lot of energy, screaming, yelling & physical behaviors.
Phase 3: Crying & whining. This signals the end of the tantrum--what we see after intense physical behaviors. And it can sometimes take only a minute to go from screaming to a whimper. Only now is the child ready to be comforted--and she's ready to listen to mom or dad.
But, no matter how long it takes, from start to finish, all tantrums follow the same pattern!
Learn more:
1. Read the NPR "What's Behind a Temper Tantrum transcript here.
2. Listen to the NPR "What's Behind a Temper Tantrum" radio show here.
3. Access Potegal's & Green's article in Emotion here.
Look Right Here for BPA-Free Cans or Containers
The Go-To Safe Brands: Eden Beans, Muir Glen Canned Tomatoes (started in January 2011), & Foods Packaged in Tetra-Paks or Glass
Just the facts, folks.
BPA is bad news. I'm not going to get into all the nasty details of how this endocrine disruptor can be damaging to pregnant women, fetuses, babies, & children--or how, as a hormone disruptor it's been linked to breast & prostate cancers, attention-deficit disorder, behavioral problems, & even diabetes.
That's all old news.
But, here's the new deal, you might have missed. BPA isn't just in plastic bottles--it's also in the linings of many cans--to prevent corrosion. In fact, until recently, it was found in the linings of practically all canned tomato products. That's now changed, because Muir Glen Organics recently started using BPA-free cans for its tomatoes. Learn more below.
Here's what my friend Fran recently sent me from 7 Foods Experts Won't Eat (and just so you know--Dr. Fredrick vom Saal is THE BPA expert in the US).
Why You Should Avoid Canned Tomatoes (until recently, that is!!)
The Expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.
The Situation: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals.
“You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”
The Solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi. (and Muir Glen tomatoes canned after 1/11)
Muir Glen Canned Tomatoes
Last Friday afternoon I waited on the phone for 45 minutes in order to talk to a Muir Glen customer service rep to find out if Muir Glen tomatoes are really BPA-Free.
To date, there is nothing on their label to indicate that they are BPA-free. So I wanted to hear it from a company representative.
Here's the scoop:
- All Muir Glen tomatoes packaged since January 2011 are now in BPA-free cans.
- The company won't put the BPA-free labels on their cans until all the old stock is off the shelf.
- So, how will we know if our cans are BPA-free, until the new labeling goes into effect?
1. The lining will be orange, not white.
2. The expiration date will have a 2014 on it. But..most of my cans have an expiration date of Mar. 2013, & they've all been orange on the inside--which means they're BPA-Free. The 2014 date will give you 100% assurance that the can is BPA-free--but there are 2013 expiration-dated cans that are also BPA-free.
3. Here's another clue. If the can has a white-enameled lining with BPA, it will say so on the label, right near the nutrition facts. Something like: contains enameled lining.
Eden Brand Beans
All Eden Brand Beans come in BPA-free cans. Learn more about that here.
Tetra-Paks or Glass
All food packaged in glass containers or in Tetra-Paks do not have BPA. Some researchers have concerns about the linings of Tetra paks--but, I haven't seen any research on that subject.
The BPA Health Risk Cliff Notes
Cleaning Up My Kitchen - Clearing Out the Bisphenol-A and Other Lurking Toxic Chemicals
The Consumer Reports Tested BPA Levels in Canned Food. It's Time to Ditch the Cans and the Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole. Safe Levels Are Much Lower Than the FDA Allows
ADD, Autism, Hyperactivity, Behavioral Problems? Could BPA or Phthalates in Cans, Plastics, Carpets & PJs Be Responsible?
Here's the new research from JAMA, November 23, 2011
On November 23, 2011, right before Thanksgiving, when millions of Americans were going to open up cans of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, green beans, Durkee's Onion Rings, pumpkin pie filling, & cranberry sauce---one of the top-dog medical journals, JAMA, busted canned soup for it's sky-high BPA levels. You can read a snippet of the article here.
But, hey, if you had read my Consumer Reports post on canned foods, none of this would have been a big surprise.
Source: Carwile JL, Ye X, Zhou X, Calafat AM, Michels KB, "Canned soup consumption and urinary bisphenol A: a randomized crossover trial," JAMA 2011 Nov 23;306(20):2218-20.
The New York Times on BPA in Cans
If you want a quick summary of the JAMA findings--head over to the New York Time's article written by Anahad O'Connor on November 22, 2011.
"People who ate one serving of canned food daily over the course of five days, the study found, had significantly elevated levels — more than a tenfold increase — of bisphenol-A, or BPA, a substance that lines most food and drink cans.
The new study, which was published [on November 23, 2011] in The Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first to measure the amounts that are ingested when people eat food that comes directly out of a can, in this case soup. The spike in BPA levels that the researchers recorded is one of the highest seen in any study.
“We cannot say from our research what the consequences are,” said Karin Michels, an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard Medical School and an author of the study.
“But the very high levels that we found are very surprising. We would have never expected a thousand-percent increase in their levels of BPA.”
Dr. Michels noted that all the participants were fed amounts of soup that were smaller than what people probably would consume on their own.
“One serving of soup is a not a lot,” she said. “They were actually telling us that that wasn’t even enough for their lunch.”
But she also pointed out that the findings were probably applicable to other canned goods, including soda and juices.
“The sodas are concerning, because some people have a habit of consuming a lot of them throughout the day,” she said. “My guess is that with other canned foods, you would see similar increases in bisphenol-A. But we only tested soups, so we wouldn’t be able to predict the absolute size of the increase.”
Bring Your Own Popcorn to the Movies!
My Ziploc Bag of Contraband "Barbecue" Popcorn - Is It OK to Bring Your Own?
On Saturday, I worked all day--drove home, downed a quick bowl of soup, popped some popcorn in my hot-air popper to take to the theater--and headed out to see a movie. The plan was to see The Way, but it was sold-out.
We saw The Descendants instead. All four of us gave it a thumbs up. But, I still want to see The Way.
Here's how to make your own Barbecue Air-Popped Popcorn
- Use a hot air-popcorn popper.
- As the popcorn comes out, mist it with water (yes, it really works & it's not soggy) from a water spray bottle, and at the same time sprinkle on Bone Suckin' Sauce Seasoning & Rub (or the seasoning of your choice) It works a lot better than spraying the popcorn with cooking oil spray (which is what I used to do), with none of the fat! The water just evaporates on the hot popcorn.
- If you don't like barbecue flavor--just sprinkle on finely ground Morton's Popcorn Salt, or nutritional yeast. Plain popcorn is pretty boring, in my opinion.
But, this is supposed to be about bringing your own popcorn.
My husband thinks it's unethical. After all--I do have to "sneak" it into the theater.
But, I say, it's not like I'd eat the theater's popcorn, if I didn't bring my own. Are you kidding?
A medium combo (cola & bag of popcorn) at Regal has 1,610 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat. That's roughly the saturated fat of a stick of butter and the calories of two sticks of butter. To get the low-down on fat & salt content of the movie popcorn you're cluelessly munching, click here.
Chef AJ's Popcorn Experiment--Sugar, Salt, & Fat are the Evil Trifecta
Here's why we love our movie popcorn so much!
- Make yourself a big bowl of air-popped popcorn. Notice how you can't keep eating it after you're full.
- Now add salt to the bowl & notice how you'll eat more than if it were just air-popped
- Now add butter & salt to the bowl & notice how you'll eat even more of it.
- Now make some Kettle Corn--with popcorn, salt, butter, & sugar, and notice how it's impossible to stop. Sugar, Salt & Fat--the deadly Trifecta.
With Three Tips--I've Got Three Questions for You:
1. What do you think about the Green & Potegal temper tantrum research? Anyone agree with my adult "temper tantrum" comparison?
2. Do you have concerns about BPA in canned food--or do you kind of ignore the whole thing? I still bought canned tomatoes, so I'm glad Muir Glen made the switch.
3. Do you bring your own popcorn into the theater?
I worked in day care summers through college, over 20 years ago, in the two-year-old room. LOTS of tantrums, mostly because the kids had ideas and emotions they could not communicate verbally yet. Wholehearted agreement on the solution. We were told to corral the screamer in a quiet corner where s/he could not hurt self or others, but otherwise ignore the behavior (or wait quietly) until s/he calmed down. Then offer comfort/ assistance with self-expression. If you don't feed the fire, it does go out. Applies to parents steaming into parent-teacher conferences to stew about perfect angel-babies not getting As, spouses needing to vent, and friends suffering through relationship problems.
I semi-ignore the BPA issue, changing what is reasonable and not worrying about what I cannot afford to change yet. Since we eat a low-sodium, plant-based diet, we don't consume many canned goods anyway. I cook my beans from dried ones. Most veggies are fresh or frozen. I re-heat everything in Pyrex. But I do use canned tomato products, as I did not get to can my own this year.
When we go to the theater, it is generally after a meal. We don't eat or drink anything. We use poor man's microwave popcorn (put cheap bagged corn in paper sack, fold sack over, pop) at home when we get the craving for it.
Posted by: Mitzi | December 06, 2011 at 04:06 PM
Mitzi, you always have something valuable to share! Glad you chimed in.
I appreciate hearing that this technique worked in a daycare situation--and that you "get" my comparison about treating adults who need to vent, exactly how we should treat toddlers.
Would like to get in the habit of cooking my own beans--but, I usually rely on canned beans--except for lentils.
I, too, heat only in Pyrex when I microwave--and never put plastic stuff in the dishwasher.
Posted by: The Healthy Librarian | December 06, 2011 at 04:23 PM
HL,
Yes, we take our popcorn to the movies and have for several years. When I told my daughter we did that she said it sounded like such a senior citizen thing to do! Well!
I pop mine in the microwave in a paper bag with no oil. But maybe I should get an air popper so I can spray and flavor it. The salt and nooch don’t stick and it is dry.
You’re right, we wouldn’t be eating the theatre popcorn anyway because of the fat. And it is so expensive--$10 for popcorn and pop. Glad to hear we aren’t the only ones.
Hope the theatres don’t catch on or we’ll have to go through security to get in. Ha!
Posted by: Anonymous | December 06, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Did you see this one? I know it is not new news to any of us, but waht is significant is that this made headline news in the UK, which is a real increase in the prominence given to this kind of thing (other than tobacco, where there has been a clear campaign for years). This is what progress looks like! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16031149
Posted by: Victoria | December 06, 2011 at 07:00 PM
My take on sneaking-taking your own popcorn into the theatre is that it's not unethical. What IS unethical is legal drug dealers selling cigarettes to people knowing that they will want more and that it is killing them, and legal movie theaters selling obvious heart attack food to movie patrons for a buck, just because they will like it and want more, further taking away their healthy body long-term. I would consider their selling it slightly less unethical if it came with a warning label, similar to cigarettes.
Dr. E could probably say it better.
As you point out, you are not taking a sale away from them.
Posted by: Jim | December 06, 2011 at 07:45 PM
Thanks for the interesting blog on a wide range of topics today. My 22 month old grandson has his share of tantrums so I'll see what my daughter thinks of the NPR story. (Just skyped with her and she disagrees in their situation as my grandson's tantrums do not fade away even if no one says anything. He is one intense little guy, though. What works for them is picking him up and nursing - yay for breastfeeding :)
I really appreciate the advice for non-BPA cans as it has been a concern of mine and without WF or TJ's, it's a little hard to find the safe products here. Muir Glen is one brand I can find but it is pricey! I hope they all follow suit soon.
As far as movie popcorn, I just do without any popcorn as I am uncomfortable breaking rules. Also munching and watching a movie does not support one in stopping when full, I have found. At home we eat plain air-popped popcorn. At first I thought it tasted like cardboard, but over time I have become used to it and appreciate the plain taste. Might try the spritzing with water and sprinkling nutritional yeast on it, though :)
Thanks again for discussing such intriguing topics!
Posted by: JM | December 06, 2011 at 08:03 PM
As far as bringing in my own popcorn goes, it doesn't apply to me because on the very few occasions when I attend the movies, I don't eat or drink anything.
I always found that ignoring the tantrum put out the 'fire' more quickly and discouraged repeat tantrums. Also, it's important to recognize the signs of the tantrum coming on before it's full blown and diffusing the situation in some way, possibly through distraction (works for 2 year olds, anyway).
Posted by: Willow | December 06, 2011 at 08:05 PM
I have nothing to say about movie popcorn. I usually wait until a movie comes on pay-per-view when I can enjoy it at home with a nice glass of wine and some fruit. But I do have something to say about BPA. I only buy Eden Organic cans now. If what I want isn't available, I buy dried beans, for example, soak them ovenight, or I buy fresh tomatoes, macerate them a bit, etc. My huge life changer was to buy a Brita water bottle. I drink so much more water now than ever before. Other than morning coffee and afternoon tea, I am just guzzling water all the time. In fact, I feel so great that I am giving all the kids Brita bottles for Christmas!
Ps - I love your blog and all the information you pack into it every time. Thanks as always.
Posted by: Cynthia White | December 06, 2011 at 08:07 PM
I live in Olympia, WA and we have an old theater that is now the Olympia Film Society, playing films that don't make the big theaters, foreign films, and documentaries. They make their popcorn plain, allowing you to salt your own if you wish. So what do people do? They bring their own melted butter! Nobody cares, even if they do bring their own popcorn. It's a pretty casual crowd.
Posted by: Becky | December 06, 2011 at 11:22 PM
I'm definitely concerned about BPA in cans, but I still use canned tomatoes because I haven't been able to find no-BPA versions in the smallish city where I live in Atlantic Canada (no Trader Joes, no Whole Foods). The only jarred and tetra pak tomatoes where I shop are tomato sauce (marinara), not plain tomatoes. I use Eden Organic canned beans, but Eden Organic's canned tomatoes do not have a BPA-free lining. According to their website: "Eden Organic Tomatoes are packed in steel cans coated with a baked on r-enamel lining. Due to the acidity of tomatoes, the lining is epoxy based and may contain a minute amount of bisphenol-A, it is however in the 'non detectable' range according to independent laboratory extraction tests. The test was based on a detection level at 5 ppb (parts per billion)." That's the best I can do for now, but I'm always on the lookout for other options.
Posted by: Kristen | December 07, 2011 at 04:59 AM
With all the information about BPA you would think more companies would manufacture BPA free cans. I try to stick mainly with Eden, but on occasion I have gone with the more conventional brands, knowing they are not BPA free. Thrilled to learn that Muir Glen is concerned about consumer health and revamping some of their products to include BPA free canned tomatoes. Coincidentally, I have a can in my pantry, which expires March 2013. Hopefully, I'll hit the jackpot and find an orange liner!!!
Love the popcorn story.I freely admit to "sneaking" in popcorn, as well as other healthy bites, into the theater. Can't wait to try spraying the popcorn with water then sprinkling on the nutritional yeast. I always assumed I would end up with soggy popcorn.
Posted by: Cindy | December 07, 2011 at 07:26 AM
I am trying to make the switch from canned to dried beans but I think I need to purchase a pressure cooker to ease the transition. I do sometimes put dried beans (after soaking overnight) in my crockpot in the morning but some beans, such as garbanzo beans, have a strong smell that my husband does not like. Using a pressure cooker would reduce the time to cook the beans as well as limit the time that the smell permeates througout the house ...fresh ones taste so much better. But I know enough people who have had pressure cooker accidents that I'm somewhat intimidated in trying them. Do you have any that you would recommend?
Posted by: STK | December 07, 2011 at 09:55 AM
Glad to hear that Muir Glen is coming out with BPA free tomatoes. Between their tomatoes and Eden's bean, I think I'm set.
It's worth mentioning that a lot of lids for glass jars (including home canning lids) have BPA in the white lining.
Posted by: Jennifer Tsen | December 07, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Muir Glen are expensive--so when they go on sale, I stock up like crazy on every variety (but especially the no-salt-added diced). Then I have enough until the next sale.
Posted by: Jackie Smith | December 07, 2011 at 11:29 AM
I'd say that the rule about movie popcorn is unethical because it infringes on my freedom to put healthy things in my body. And as a child of the 60s, I know what to do about unethical rules! I suppose one could say that if I buy a ticket and enter into their establishment I'm agreeing to their terms.......Nah. What if I'm a diabetic, say, and need to eat something so my blood sugar won't plummet, but nothing they offer is good for my condition? They probably wouldn't object then. I don't think our position is that far off. Besides, it's so pleasant to be counter-cultural in a positive way!
Posted by: Carol | December 07, 2011 at 11:39 AM
l) I work with the public. Grown-ups have tantrums and melt downs all the time. I agree that the best way to respond is to wait it out and say as little as possible.
2) I am concerned about BPA in cans.
3) It is ethical to bring food into the theatre. The fact that the theatre would rather charge you for food in addition to charging you for attending the movie is their problem, not yours. They are not entitled to do so. You are perfectly within your rights to bring in your own snacks and treats. Having said that, I make a habit of not eating at movies. The movie should be good enough so that the experience is complete without snacking.
Posted by: Rosalyn | December 07, 2011 at 06:05 PM
Can anyone recommend a good hot air popper? The Toastess one we use takes a long time and doesn't pop all the kernels. I've tried using the microwave and a glass dish but the results are even worse.
Posted by: heidi | December 07, 2011 at 11:49 PM
Loved the blog today...I, too, saw the "7 Foods Experts Won't Eat" article. I generally really enjoy getting new information that pertains to improving my health. Sometimes, however, I just groan, "Another item I can't eat anymore!" If it's not the emotional attachment (and sheer love of the flavor - like peanut butter, I absolutely love the stuff - and it was so hard to get over the fact that if I wanted to be healthy I would have to give it up) then it's the issue of finding a replacement and/or the cost of the replacement. Right now I'm wondering what I'm going to do with all of those cans of pumpkin I bought (for my steel cut oats breakfast - it's the kids' favorite) and where do I find ones where the cans are BPA-free? And, boy oh boy, we go through a LOT of canned black beans. This is definitely going to make things more difficult. Anybody relate?
Posted by: Chell | December 09, 2011 at 11:19 PM
@ Heidi: My trusty hot-air popper is a Presto---it's an Orville Renenbacher Model--but, all Presto hot-air poppers are the same. It's cheap--get it at Bed Bath & Beyond with a coupon.
@Chell: Re cans--my philosophy is to do the best I can (no pun intended). I continued to buy canned tomatoes before I found out about Muir Glen--and I continue to buy pumpkin for oatmeal. If I was planning to get pregnant--or was pregnant--I'd avoid all BPA. One thought about the pumpkin is to buy frozen pumpkin or squash. No BPA there. Beans & tomatoes are biggest canned purchases--most everything else is fresh, frozen, or comes in a jar. For anyone eating tuna or salmon---Vital CHoice (very expensive) uses BPA-free cans.
@Chell: I know exactly how you feel about all these,"Avoid this, avoid that" stuff. I kind of pick the stuff I concentrate on--and remember what Dr. Lou Guillette, the Distinguished Professor of Zoology at University of Florida who as the first to discover BPA leaching into our water from plastics: "Don't despair, our livers are designed to filter toxic chemicals."
Posted by: The Healthy Librarian | December 10, 2011 at 05:43 AM
I gave up canned beans over a year ago and now cook dried beans. The canned tomatoes have been harder to give up. But I'm surprised at the enthusiasm for the new type of Muir Glen liner. Who's to say that this new material is any safer than the BPA? I wish we could go back to plain old cans. It takes quite a while before that corrosion sets in.
Posted by: Nina | December 10, 2011 at 07:30 PM
@Nina: Well said. Bottom line, we don't know what's in the new liner, but I'm assuming Muir Glen did their due diligence before making such a major switch, & an organic food company pays attention to chemicals. Why can't we just go back to old-fashioned cans? Probably to improve shelf-life & the quality of the product.
Posted by: The Healthy Librarian | December 11, 2011 at 04:10 AM
I try to minimise BPA exposure in my family by avoiding canned tomatoes, but continue to buy baked beans for the convenience. Unfortunately it is not possible to buy non-BPA lined cans in New Zealand at present.
Posted by: Michelle NZ fan | December 17, 2011 at 11:15 AM
@Michelle NZ: Sounds like a reasonable plan. The tomatoes absorb more BPA than beans. I bet one of these days soon BPA will be banned from all cans. I can hope!
Posted by: The Healthy Librarian | December 17, 2011 at 12:49 PM