Conagra Foods Removes BPA From Cans Across Portfolio

ConAgra Foods, Inc. has announced that all of the company’s facilities in the U.S. and Canada have completed the transition to cans without Bisphenol A (BPA) liners.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. has announced that all of the company’s facilities in the U.S. and Canada have completed the transition to cans without Bisphenol A (BPA) liners. While ConAgra Foods began canning some food in non-BPA lined cans in 2010, other foods required a different approach, due to their acidity or other characteristics. Extensive research and trials to find safe, long-lasting and economical packaging led the company to Ardagh Group, a global leader in glass and metal packaging solutions.

Ardagh invested in capacity and capability to meet ConAgra Foods’ needs, and began providing the company non-BPA cans earlier this year. The cans are made in new, state-of-the-art production facilities using advanced technologies that allow for use of different coating systems using polyester or acrylic materials that do not contain BPA. As of July 30, all ConAgra Foods canned foods made in its U.S. and Canadian facilities will be packaged in cans with non-BPA liners. The company does import into the U.S. and Canada a small quantity of canned products with BPA liners and is working with the suppliers of these products to convert to non-BPA liners by early 2016.

“Our ongoing commitment to consumers means that we constantly work to improve our packaging to assure quality and the overall experience,” said Gail Tavill, vice president, Packaging & Sustainable Productivity, ConAgra Foods. “We recognize consumer interest in removing BPA from our cans and are pleased to be able to respond to that desire and offer food that our consumers can feel confident in.”

ConAgra Foods makes a wide range of food, including many canned items, including:

Hunt's® tomatoes
Hunt's® Manwich sloppy joe sauce
Reddi-wip® whipped cream
RO*TEL® tomatoes and green chilies
Van Camp’s® beans
Libby’s® sausages and corned beef
Wolf® Brand Chili
Ranch Style® Beans
Dennison’s® chili
Chef Boyardee® canned pasta
PAM® cooking spray

Canning is an excellent way to preserve food naturally; no preservatives are needed, as metal cans lock in vitamins, minerals and flavor. Additionally, metal cans offer environmental benefits, as they may be recycled over and over. This packaging minimizes natural product waste from fruit and vegetables, enabling food distribution and a very long shelf life of food for consumers around the world.

Source: ConAgra Foods, Inc.