Why canned tomatoes are bad for you

As a registered dietitian, part of my role is to debunk nutrition myths and provide a science based reason why they are myths. As I am a huge fan of canned tomatoes, one of my biggest pet peeves is when folks and media outlets trash canned foods without really knowing all the facts. Please stop trashing canned foods, especially canned tomatoes, and understand the agricultural facts and science. Below are four common myths about canned foods debunked, plus a ton of ways to use canned tomatoes in your dishes.

Myth 1: Foods, including produce, used for canning are inferior to fresh produce. Over the last 40 to 50 years, scientists have gotten very good at breeding tomatoes to get the perfect blend of flavor and structure. The tomatoes used for canned tomato products are machine picked, not handpicked so they need to be sturdy. After the tomatoes are handpicked, they are cooked to preserve them.

No additional additives or preservatives are needed. Of course, fresh is certainly a healthy option too. There is a time and place to use both fresh and canned in a healthy eating plan. If the fruit or vegetable is in season, enjoy it as a snack or in a sandwich. Photo courtesy of Tomato Wellness Products Council. BPA or bisphenol-A is a synthetic compound used since the s used to make certain plastics and resins.

The tomato sauce in this dish is super versatile. I always have a stock in my freezer to put on pasta, pizza or meat. Add the onions and cook for 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and lightly browned.

Add the garlic and chilli. Stir for a few minutes, add the vinegar and leave to evaporate. Lower the heat and leave to simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until it has almost reduced to a paste. Blend until smooth. Stir in the capers and chopped basil.

Below are just a few of the health problems linked to BPA exposure… hormonal disruption reproductive harm increased risk of certain cancers malformation of organs in children risk of miscarriage sperm defects increased risk of mental disabilities in babies.

So what should you do if you want to use preserved tomatoes? Pin Share Yum 2. The best news, according to Miller, is that in response to consumer concerns, the U. She says this means that if you buy tomatoes canned in the U. She calls this great news because it means you can eat more tomatoes and this vegetable well, technically fruit is " incredibly nutritious