Oh My Goodness Is That The Time Already?

I know! I have abandoned you and I’m sorry. Every day I intend to write a piece 
for Chemo Chic. And every day the beach and the sunshine beckon me away from 
my laptop. By the time I return with my hair full of salt and my brain befuddled 
with bliss it seems that the only realistic course of action is to lie on the couch 
and languidly eat a mango whilst Samantha makes us a nice cup of tea.


I’m in Australia, in case you hadn’t twigged. In a way, I’m having the holiday that I 
missed out on two years ago when Nick did the dirty and our 'dream vacation' all went lurching hideously sideways. I’ve spent time in Tasmania, visiting Mum, Aunty Noni and my cousins Fay and Matilda. The weather was sublime. We swam every day with the giant 
stingrays in the aquamarine water of the bay. Stingrays are gentle souls really, as 
long as you don’t step on them. They hear you coming and just glide ahead like a 
guard of honour. I spent a lot of time standing on Mum’s verandah watching 
them moseying around on the sand, doing their stingray thing. Tasmania is rightly 
famed for its food. We did all the usual being attacked by catching fish from Noni’s boat, collecting mussels and samphire from the rocks and raiding Mum’s garden every evening 
for salads, beans, peas, zucchini, potatoes, corn, kale…

Then it was back to the city to catch up with all my Sydney friends: Mandy and 
Tony, now deep into married life; Lulu; Jimmy and of course Samantha, Lyla, Lily, 
Felix the cat and Lola the one-eyed pug. Living in Watson’s Bay is as bonkers as 
ever. Thank the Lord.


And now so much time has passed by I’m at a loss as to where to begin the catch-
up. So I’m just going to start posting up snippets, going back and forth in time to 
try to fill in some of the details of the past six or seven weeks. 

Shopping Made Simple

 After being diagnosed with breast cancer I was immediately inundated with a small tsunami of dietary advice. Everyone, it seemed, was keen to offer me opinions about what I should or should not eat. I read books on macrobiotics, juicing, raw food, the dangers of dairy and the importance of iodine until I felt the need to go and lie down in a darkened room with a chocolate éclair over my eyes.

I instinctively felt that eating the right things would play a very important part in my recovery. But I have to say, I did become fearful, overwhelmed and a little bit paranoid about the whole anti-cancer diet. I also felt slightly depressed at the prospect of a lifetime of lentil stew and carrot sandwiches that I envisaged stretching tediously before me.

Now, I have always prided myself on my cooking but one of my main problems was that I just didn’t know where to start, nor did I have the energy to undertake an Open University course in nutrition and naturopathy. I understood that the first step would be to actually have the right foods in my kitchen. It would be relatively simple matter to create healthy meals if my cupboards and fridge were all stocked up with healthy ingredients. But what were they?

At the time it would have been great to have had a simple shopping list to take with me to the supermarket. You may be experiencing similar confusion about what to eat and what to buy. Fear not. Lily has been there to beat a path before you. And that path has led me to the door of Barbara Cox, nutritionist, chef and proprietor of – you guessed it – Nutrichef.

So take the stress and guesswork out of food shopping. You simply can’t go wrong with Barbara’s super shopping list.

100 Star Foods For Superhealth

By Barbara Cox

To facilitate the myriad of biochemical processes that go on inside us each and every day we all need a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. To get these nutrients we need to eat a wide variety of different kinds of food, but, alarmingly, many of us eat a very restricted diet in which we repeatedly choose our favourite meals. In contrast, I noted that people in Japan – where I was lucky enough to live for eight years - eat a far more varied diet, often consuming around 100 different varieties of food each week. Is it any wonder, therefore, that the United Kingdom finds itself at Number 37 in the world rankings for life expectancy, while Japan finds itself at Number 3.

So why not aim to up your intake of healthy ingredients? Here I’ve identified 100 of the best on Planet Earth, beginning with the most important group – fruit and vegetables.

Fruit and Vegetables

Although the UK Government recommends a daily intake of five portions of fruit and veg, experts say this should be the bare minimum. Nine or ten is a better figure to aim for. In fact, a recent study from the US National Cancer Institute found that women who ate ten servings of fruit and veg each day lowered their risk of having a heart attack by 40%. For each additional serving, you lower your risk of heart disease by an additional 4%. I find that a target of ten is easy to achieve if you make stir fries, stews and casseroles.

THE BASICS

1. Red and orange peppers Rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, they contain three times as much vitamin C as citrus fruit, and they have antibacterial qualities.
2. Broccoli A cancer fighting veg, it’s high in Calcium, folate and antioxidants.
3. Carrots They have cholesterol lowering properties and are rich in Vitamin A, which is good for your eyes.
4. Sweet potatoes Rich in Fibre, vitamin C, folate, iron, copper and calcium; sweet potatoes are also bursting with Vitamin A.
5. Watercress Packed with folate, iron and betacarotene, and good for cardiovascular and thyroid function, too.
6. Tomatoes They’re packed with vitamin C and the antioxidant lycopene.
7. Red cabbage Rich in fibre, vitamin C, betacarotene and disease-fighting sulphorate.
8. Blueberries Loaded with anthocyans, vitamin C and fibre. A great source of disease-fighting antioxidants.
9. Apples Rich in Vitamin C and soluble fibre, which is gentler on your gut than insoluble fibre.
10. Peaches Easily digested and have a cleansing effect on your kidneys and bladder, too.

SUPERBOOSTERS

11. Asparagus High in nutrients, especially vitamin K (important for blood clotting) and folic acid. A good liver tonic.
12. Beansprouts Rich in vitamin B3, which keeps down cholesterol levels and regulates blood sugar. Also rich in biochemicals that aid digestion.
13. Aubergines Full of calcium and betacarotene, aubergines are good for the cardio-vascular system
14. Mangetout Good source of fibre and rich in vitamins A, C and K.
15. Watermelon An ‘anti-aging’ fruit that’s rich in lycopene and immune-boosting vitamin C.
16. Pineapple Contains bromelain, an important digestive enzyme that kills bacteria. It’s an anti-bloat food, too.
17. Raspberries Provides around 40% of your daily dose of vitamin C as well as other powerful antioxidants.
18. Kiwi fruit Very rich in immune-boosting vitamin C, magnesium and potassium, which are vital for healthy nerves and muscles. One kiwi contains your reference nutrient intake of vitamin C.
19. Cranberries Rich in anti-aging antioxidants; help prevent the build-up of plaque in the arteries and may help to prevent urinary tract infections.
20. Pomegranate Hailed as a new superfruit, thanks to high levels of Vitamins A, C and E and other antioxidants.
21. Goji Berries These Asian fruits contain up to 21 trace minerals. They’re said to be the richest source of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, of all known foods. Available as dried fruits from healthfood shops.

 Carbohydrates

There are two kinds of carbohydrate: complex and simple. Normally in life we’re told to keep things simple and avoid overcomplicating things; however, with carbohydrates, we should do the opposite! Simple carbohydrates are all the naughty ones like chocolates, cakes and sweets that provide us with ‘empty’ calories - calories galore with very few useful nutrients thrown in for good measure! The problem with simple carbohydrates is that their high concentration of sugar breaks down very quickly, giving you an energy ‘high’ followed quickly by an energy ‘low’.

In contrast, complex carbohydrates like oats, millet, maize, rice and wheat provide us with energy in a slow-release form, and they provide us with vitamins and minerals.

22. Brown rice Good source of energy, as well as B Vitamins.
23. Pearl barley Linked with lower cholesterol levels, good for the digestive tract and contains zinc, which boosts the immune system.
24. Oats A superb energy source, rich in fibre, they reduce cholesterol and are packed with minerals and vitamin B5 – important for hair, skin and nails.
25. Quinoa Good source of protein, vitamin E and iron, plus zinc, which is good for the immune system.
26. Spelt A distant relative of wheat, but it’s more easily absorbed by the body.
27. Rye Contains iron and B vitamins. Regular intakes of rye are linked with lower rates of heart disease.
28. Buckwheat High in protein, use this gluten-free grain in flour form for bread, pancakes etc.
29. Millet This gluten-free carb is great as an alternative to rice. Contains zinc, iron, vitamins B3 and E.
30. Soba Noodles Usually made from buckwheat, they may have wheat flour added. Contain selenium and zinc.
31. Couscous A source of slow release carbohydrate, it’s rich in vitamin B3, which provides energy. Also rich in minerals and vitamin B5 – important for healthy hair, skin and nails.
32. Bulgur/cracked wheat Both good sources of slow-releasing carbs.

Protein

Protein is essential for growth and repair. As for how much to eat, a rough guide is to clench your fist and eat the same volume of protein with every meal!

THE BASICS

33. Walnuts A good source of omega-3’s and antioxidants.
34. Shellfish Most varieties are high in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.
35. Turkey Rich source of vitamin B12, potassium, zinc and iron.
36. Chickpeas Rich in phyto-oestrogens, which are linked with lower rates of some cancers.
37. Eggs One egg provides a third of your Vitamin B12 needs, essential for the nervous system.
38. Kidney Beans Great Source of fibre and are rich in complex carbs.
39. Tofu Low-fat protein that contains some iron, zinc and B vitamins.
40. Mackerel The richest fish source of omega-3’s.
41. Edamame A soya bean that’s rich in cancer-fighting isoflavones.
42. Venison Lower in saturated fats than other red meats.

SUPERBOOSTERS

43. Mussels Provide an excellent supply of B12. Rich in selenium and iodine, which helps thyroid function.
44. Mung Beans Most nutrititious when sprouted, they’re rich in minerals, phyto-oestrogens and vitamin C.
45. Rabbit Lower in fat than other red meats and is rich in iron, zinc and vitamin B12.
46. Pumpkin seeds A particularly good source of iron and zinc.
47. Dulse (seaweed) High in vitamin B, iron and potassium.

Seasonal Produce

Local, seasonal foods will be fresher and more nutrient-rich. Here are some around in the colder months, when we’re in even more need of a healthy diet.

48. Artichoke Rich in fibre, vitamin c, potassium and magnesium, they’re good for digestion.
49. Acorn squash Packed with nutrients that benefit your eyes, blood pressure and immunity.
50. Celeriac Contains potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C and fibre.
51. Beetroot High in vitamin C, betacarotene, magnesium, iron and folic acid.
52. Red onion Rich in cancer-fighting quercetin.
53. Brussels sprouts Loaded with folic acid and suphotaphane, thought to be a potent anti-carcinogen.
54. Passion fruit A good source of vitamins A and C, passion fruit is thought to aid sleep.
55. Satsumas Excellent source of vitamin C and folate.
56. Kale Full of iron and folic acid, and easy to use in stir-fries.

Fats and Oils

Healthy Fats are important for your metabolism and absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K, for brain development and feelings of satiety. Aim for no more than 70g (about 3 tablespoons) a day.

57. Flaxseed oil Rich in fatty acids thought to prevent heart disease.
58. Rapeseed oil A healthy cooking oil and a source of omega-3’s.
59. Avocado Contains vitamin E, so it’s great for your skin.
60. Olive oil Rich in oleic acid, which helps you absorb omega-3’s.
61. Hazelnut oil High in omega-9’s and contains vitamin E.

Herbs and Spices

These provide trace elements, have medicinal properties and help create different flavours and textures, enabling you to experiment with a wider variety of foods.

62. Ginger Good for digestion and is also anti-inflammatory.
63. Garlic This has antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic qualities.
64. Mint Contains vitamin C, calcium and iron.
65. Turmeric Containing curcumin, it has anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting effects.
66. Cinnamon A warming spice useful for treating colds, stomach pains and poor circulation.
67. Bay leaves They provide traces of iron and phosphorus, and are good for digestion.
68. Rosemary A good stimulant for your immune system and a powerful antioxidant.
69. Chives They contain compounds that may help to lower blood cholesterol levels.
70. Coriander Good tonic for your stomach, heart and urinary tract.
71. Dill Antibacterial herb that’s a good source of calcium.
72. Fennel Known for its diuretic effects, traditionally used to relieve intestinal cramps.
73. Parsley Contains vitamin C, folic acid and betacarotene.
74. Sage is an anti-inflammatory and is good for digestion.
75. Thyme Known best for its antioxidant properties.

 Plus…

PMS BEATERS

76. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds These help beat inflammation.
77. Porridge its slow-release energy may help control sugar cravings.
78. Bananas Contain serotonin, which boosts mood, and their potassium may help beat fluid retention, too.
79. Lentils Loaded with magnesium – low levels of magnesium may cause cramps.
80. Wholegrains Rich in vitamin B6 and B1, which help beat cramps.
81. Celery Contains phytochecmicals that may help calm nerves.
82. Spinach Rich in folate – low levels of which have been linked to depression. 

ANTI-AGERS

83. Green tea Rich in catechin polyphenols, which slow the signs of aging
84. Pink grapefruit Contains lycopene, which mops up free radicals.
85. Salmon Contains dimethylaminoe-thanol, a powerful antioxidant.

BRAIN FEEDERS

86. Basil Used by herbalists for its antidepressant properties.
87. Strawberries Rich in antioxidants that are said to aid concentration.
88. Yeast extract Filled with brain-boosting B vitamins.
89. Sardines Bursting with omega-3 fatty acids. 

SLEEP BOOSTERS

90. Fig This fibrous fruit contains sleep-inducing tryptophan.
91. Wild lettuce Leafy greens that contain the sedative lactucarium.
92. Sesame seeds Their omega-6s support healthy sleep patterns. 

GET ADVENTUROUS

93. Nettles are used in herbal teas and have purifying properties.
94. Physalis is high in vitamin C.
95. Daikon radishes are rich in iron and high in antioxidants
96. Acai berries are antibacterial.
97. Papaya aids digestion.
98. Okra is a good veg source of calcium.
99. Miso paste is rich in phyto-oestrogens.
100. Guavas are high in vitamin C

 © Nutrichef 2004-2010 

BPA - Join the Revolution

You may remember my one-woman investigation into the fact that those of us who eat food out of tins (and who doesn’t – apart from me?) are being bombarded with an oestrogenic substance called Bisphenol-A.

Spurred on by the Breast Cancer Fund’s Kick the Can campaign, I have pledged to eat no tinned food in July. For me, it was easy: no BPA infested tinned food has passed my lips for over a year now. But for most of us, avoiding tinned food falls into the ‘too-hard basket’ of life. Don’t despair, Lily is here to give you some support.

Lily’s top tips for avoiding tinned food:

Fruit:

I get a weekly delivery of fresh, organic fruit from Riverford Organics. Then I cook up a variety of compotes (rhubarb; blackcurrant and apple; gooseberry; mixed berries etc) using agave syrup to sweeten them. I store the compotes in glass jars in the fridge. Fabulous for an instant breakfast or dessert with yoghurt or ice cream.

Buy organic fruit in summer whilst it is cheap and plentiful, then freeze it. Also make home-made sorbets and keep them in the freezer.

Fresh and dried fruits are great to keep around the house for quick snacks.

Beans:

Dried beans, the upside: they taste much better than tinned beans. The downside: most beans have to be soaked overnight before cooking. Lentils are the exception.

Sainsbury’s now do a great range of organic beans (butter beans; black beans; canellini; lentils) in BPA-free Tetra Paks. Posher brands come in glass jars.

Organic frozen peas and broad beans cook in seconds and are available from most supermarkets.

Vegetables:

Most vegetables in tins are completely flavourless. Steaming fresh veg usually only takes a minute or two.

I buy sweetcorn cobs with the papery leaves still on. These act as a natural wrapper. Just bung a cob in the microwave for 4 minutes (7 minutes for 2 cobs) then peel away the leaves and hairy flax. Eat the corn as is with butter, salt and pepper or cut the niblets off with a sharp knife to add to salads.

Tinned meat:

Are you crazy? Don’t eat that sh*t. Sometimes I have a ‘cooking Sunday’ when I make some organic chicken or lamb casserole and then freeze portions that can be reheated for a quick snack. If you simply can’t cook then go for a good quality, preferably organic, ready meal, but take it out of the plastic tray before heating. Reheat ready meals in a stainless steel or cast-iron saucepan or a ceramic oven dish or microwave them in a Pyrex or ceramic bowl (cover with unbleached kitchen paper).

Tinned fish:

Anchovies and tuna fish are both sold in glass jars. Frozen prawns are great for adding to curries, pasta and stews.

Soup:

Buy soup in Tetra Paks – or make your own.

Tomatoes:

Again, tomatoes are available in Tetra Paks. Tomato paste can be bought in glass jars. Tomato sauce is easy-peasy to make at home and freeze.

So get on board with Lily and Ernest Hemingway (above), sign the pledge, kick the can and please let us all know how you get on.

Pasta With a Twist

My friend and raw goodness goddess Jeni Cook posted this recipe for living pasta with Marinara sauce.

Here is a living food recipe that tastes as good if not better than the cooked version.

For the pasta:

2 big, fresh courgettes

For the Marinara sauce:

2 cups tomatoes

1 cup red bell pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic

Large pinch cayenne (optional)

12 sun dried tomatoes, soaked in olive oil

1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

2 Medjool dates, pitted (optional)

Using a potato peeler, peel long thin strips of courgette to make the pasta.

Place the courgette pasta strips into a large bowl.

Pile all of the Marinara ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth.

Pour sauce over courgette pasta and serve.

Try topping with capers, green or black olives or chopped baby yellow tomatoes.

If you want to learn more about living food, you could do no better than to attend one of the classes that Jeni runs through her company Raw Health Harmony.

Check Up

In his excellent book ‘Anti Cancer, a New Way of Life’, Dr David Servan-Schreiber writes about changes that we can all make in our daily lives that will improve our odds of surviving cancer or, better still, not getting it in the first place.

In clear language Dr David explains why he believes these simple lifestyle changes are important. I won’t go into all his research and reasons why. I mean that’s what the book is all about. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone. But, in a nutshell, here is what Dr David recommends we all try to do:

1. Reduce exposure to carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals as much as possible.

2. Adopt a diet rich in plants and whole grains. Eat grass-fed, organic animal products and filter tap water.

3. Exercise and get out in the sunshine.

4. Release feelings of powerlessness by working on past traumas and repressed emotions.

5. Practise meditation.

So, how am I doing?

1. Exposure.

Gold stars:

* I’m most of the way through Lily’s Product Replacement Programme (henceforth to be known as ‘LPRP’). This involves replacing all my beauty and hygiene products with un-toxic alternatives.

* I’ve chucked out most of the plastic and Teflon stuff in my kitchen and replaced it with glass, stainless steel and bamboo.

* I keep my flat ventilated by opening the windows and doors.

* I’ve stopped eating tinned food, microwave dinners and anything else likely to be contaminated with BPA.

* I’ve reduced dry-cleaning to the absolute minimum required. When I do dry clean the odd sparkly gown I take off the plastic wrapper and air it out on the balcony before putting it away in the cupboard.

* I’ve started using Ecover cleaning products.

* I don’t use any pesticides or insect killers in my flat or on my plants.

Room for improvement:

* I’m still smoking

* I spend half my life on the mobile phone and computer.

2. Diet.

Gold stars:

* My cupboards are overflowing with packets of organic brown rice, lentils, beans and seeds.

* I’ve given up dairy products apart from organic butter, which I have maybe once a month.

* I eat organic meat, eggs and vegetables

* I eat heaps of vegetables and fruit.

* I don’t eat sweets, apart from organic dark chocolate.

* I use a charcoal water filter.

Room for improvement:

* I still drink too much tea and coffee. I’d like to up the green tea and reduce my caffeine intake.

* I probably could cut down on meat.

* I can’t resist the odd fry-up.

3. Activity.

Gold stars:

* I take a morning walk.

* I’ve started going to yoga once a week.

* I wear leg weights around the house.

Room for improvement:

* I really miss swimming but it’s just too damned cold.

* I suppose I could join the g-y-m.

4. Emotional freedom.

Gold stars:

* I practise Lily’s Stress Reduction Programme (‘LSRP’).

* I see a psychotherapist once a week.

* I go to a twelve-step group and talk about my life.

* I keep in close contact with my friends and family.

* I sing and jump around my living room.

Room for improvement:

* I sometimes feel overwhelmed by fear of the cancer returning.

* After my devastating experience with Nick I’m very distrustful of any possible romantic relationships.

* I am overly insecure about money, or rather the lack of it.

5. Meditation.

Gold stars:

* Ummmmmm.

Room for improvement:

* Plenty.

I seem to have some sort of mental block about meditation. I will start off with the best intentions, go through the resistance barrier, get into the flow for a week or three days, feel great – and then stop doing it. Why?

This scattergun pattern is very common. I carried out a Random Lily Poll (RLP) of would-be meditators. Here are some of the things they said: “I don’t have enough discipline;” “I’m too lazy;” “I can’t find the time;” “I’m not spiritual enough,” or “I really should force myself to do it”. Are these self-punishing attitudes helpful or even accurate?

Let’s examine them. I don’t know about you but I’m not a lazy or ill-disciplined person – I work, I do the shopping, cook, get to my medical appointments on time and so on. Meditation only takes ten minutes – I spend more time than that gawping at facebook. Everyone is spiritual, just as we are all physical, intellectual and emotional. And how is forcing myself going to help me to be free?

So what’s really holding me back? The same thing that holds everyone back from all kinds of victories. Fear: fear of pain – I’m alive, therefore I have painful emotions tucked away; fear of the unknown – and the inside of my head is the great unknown; fear that I’m not doing it right or that I will fail. 

BPA - A Canalily Investigation

In past posts I have drawn attention to concerns about Bisphenol-A. Apparently it is an endocrine disruptor that mimics oestrogen in the body. If you’ve been with me up to now (come on, keep up!) you will know that, in the context of breast cancer, this is not a good thing.

I have read that the lining of tins is made of plastic and known to leach Bisphenol-A. In general, plastic will release far more chemicals when heated. Tins of food are heated to high temperatures when they are sealed, in order to kill bacteria.

In August 2009 a group of French Senators tabled a bill that proposed to ban BPA in all food containers. The proposal was watered down and in June this year they approved a proposition to ban BPA in babies’ bottles. Yes, that’s right, BPA is in babies’ bottles and no, I didn’t know that either.

In March the Danish government banned BPA in all materials that are in contact with food intended for children aged 0-3.

Last month the Canadian Government declared Bisphenol-A to be toxic.

Last week the European Union banned it from babies’ bottles. The move has been greeted with a great deal of moaning from the plastics industry.

Surely what is not good for babies is also not good for me?

From:      Canalily

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Sainsburys, Waitrose, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Coles, Woolworth's

Dear Madam or Sir,

As a breast cancer survivor I am increasingly concerned about the leaching of possible endocrine disruptors into food. It has come to my attention that the plastic linings of food tins may contain Bisphenol-A.

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell if the tin is lined with plastic until one opens it.

Would you be so kind as to send me a list of the foods that you sell in unlined tins?

With kind regards

Canalily

From:      ASDA

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Hello Lily,

Thanks for contacting us.

I understand your concerns about Bisphenol A in food as you have survived breast cancer.

However, I am unable to provide you with a list of foods because of the volume of products we sell.

If you are worried about any particular food please let me know and I will speak with the technical team about it.

Once again, thanks for contacting us and if I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards

ASDA Service Team

Am I understanding this right - Asda sell so many products that they don’t have time to keep up with the safety of what’s in them?

From:      Sainsbury’s

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Dear Lily,

Thanks for your email. I can understand your concerns about Bisphenol-A, especially in the circumstances.  I hope you are keeping well now.

I’ve spoken to my colleague and I’ve not been able to get a list for you.  We are aware of the potential health issues but I can assure you that we do follow guidance issued by the FSA.  I’m sorry I can’t give you any more information at this time. If you require information about specific products please call 0800636262 with the barcode and we will be happy to assist you.

We’re grateful to you for taking the time to contact us, and look forward to seeing you in store soon.

Kind regards

Customer Manager

From:      Marks & Spencer

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Dear Ms Canalily

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns over our food packaging.

Bisphenol-a is a chemical that M&S have been monitoring for a number of years.  We would like to assure you that Bisphenol-a is not used in all plastics as indicated in your email.  In fact there are very few instances where bisphenol-a is used, which is often misrepresented by the media.  It has been known for the media to have to retract statements they make on this subject, certainly this was the case in 2008 when the media reported, incorrectly, that the chemical was used in HDPE plastics (milk bottles).

Marks and Spencer use four main plastic types (PET, PP, PE and small amounts of PS) and we can confirm that the chemical is not present in these plastics.

The areas where the chemical are used are poly-carbonates (the material that baby bottles are made from). Its other main area of use in the food packaging is within the plastic coating on the inside of grocery cans.

We have independently reviewed all the experimentation on the research carried out to date and we can conclude that none of this work is able to form any direct link to human health effects.  Our own studies are backed up by all the main food regularity bodies (FDA, EFSA, FSA), who have concluded that the chemical does not present a concern to human health. 

Where we know the chemical to be used, we also know that it is food safe and there is no current technological alternative that can be used.  We monitor the chemicals use and carry out random independent testing on the levels found in food and to this date we have not had a positive result.  In other words, where the chemical is used in can linings, it has not then be found to actually migrate into food.

As the chemical continues to be of concern to the public, we are of course working with the can manufacturers and chemical companies to reduce and ideally replace its use.  In the meantime, we can assure you that all Marks and Spencer packaging complies with relevant EU legislation and where possible we take a leading standards approach on chemical safety, through our own independent testing and monitoring programme as well as setting limits on chemicals that are higher than legislative limits.

I hope you will find this information useful.

Thanks again for taking the time to get in touch.

Please be aware that this email is from a ‘no reply’ email address.

If we can assist any further, please visit the help pages of our website.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/contactus

Here you will find answers to some of our frequently asked questions. If after using this facility you still need assistance, please use the contact us link that will appear in the bottom right hand corner. To contact us directly please select the ‘in store service and feedback’ option under ‘email us’.

Kind Regards

Marks & Spencer Customer Services

From:      Canalily

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Marks & Spencer

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

You have, however, missed the point of my enquiry.

I did not write to ask about the safety of BPA. As you say, there is controversy in this area. Some think it safe, others do not.

Having had breast cancer, I prefer to adopt the precautionary approach. It is my intention to buy only those tinned goods that do not contain any BPA. Hence my question is: which tinned foods stocked by M&S do not have plastic linings that may contain BPA?

With kind regards

Canalily

From:      Marks & Spencer

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Dear Ms Canalily

Thank you for contacting us further about the lining of our tinned products.

I am unable to answer this question right now but will speak to our technologist for our tinned products. I appreciate your precaution with plastic lining and although he may not be able to provide an actual list of products excluding this; I will source further information that may prove useful to you.

On receipt of this information I will be in touch further. Thank you for your continued patience and I apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

Kind Regards

Marks & Spencer Customer Services

From:      Marks & Spencer

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Dear Ms Canalily,

Following on from my previous correspondence, I have now received a response from our technologist.

He has informed me all of our cans are lacquered to prevent corrosion in contact with the food. You can think of this as a kind of food safe varnish. Any can with a ring pull will contain a layer of plastic (it is how the ring pull works)

The final exception is that our sweetcorn and tomatoes are plastic lined.

I understand this may be disappointing to you and I apologise for any disappointment this causes.

Thank you for getting in touch.

Kind Regards

Marks & Spencer Customer Services

From:      Waitrose

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Thank you for your e-mail regarding the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in the lining of Waitrose canned foods. BPA is a material that attracts a good deal of controversy and misinformation.

Firstly it is important that there is a protective film inside a can to separate the food from the metal and thereby prevent the can from corroding and migrating into the food. BPA is not itself used to coat the inside of cans but is one of the building blocks used to make resins which are then further reacted to form an inert and resistant protective film. Only minute traces of unreacted BPA are in the finished polymer.

The main issues surrounding BPA (and raised by the EWG) are:-

(1) BPA has been shown to have weak oestrogenic activity in animal studies but this is at dose levels many thousands of times higher than the European Union (EU) statutory limit of 0.6 mg/kg for migration from food packaging materials.

(2) A few researchers have suggested low-dose endocrine effects, however this is a controversial theory that has not been confirmed by a detailed independent study on behalf of the EU.

(3) This EU study also found no evidence of the chromosomal abnormalities reported by Hunt et al at the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.

It is a fact that Government ministries worldwide have reviewed and re-reviewed the various pieces of research work associated with BPA and they remain unconvinced that it has any adverse effects whatsoever at the extremely low levels at which it may migrate into foods and beverages.

UK Food Standards Agency

"there is still no conclusive evidence of a link between harmful effects [of BPA] on human reproductive health and exposure to the chemicals"

European Food Safety Authority

"low-dose endocrine effects of bisphenol A in rodents did not demonstrate such activity in ways that were robust or reproducible in humans"

USA Food & Drugs Administration (FDA)

"FDA sees no reason to change its long-held position that current uses [of BPA] with food are safe"

It is with this knowledge from regulatory bodies and the current absence of any viable alternative material that we permit the use of BPA as a raw material for the production of can linings for Waitrose branded products. We do, however, continue to closely monitor this chemical as new evidence comes to light and recognise the concerns of some of our customers as they read the adverse publicity about BPA that emerges in the media from time to time. Please be assured that we regularly get our products tested to ensure that any migration is within the strict EU limit (above) and, to date, have found no problems. We work closely with our suppliers to identify potential alternatives but, as you can appreciate, we need to act in a precautionary fashion to ensure that we do not prejudice the safety of our canned products by changing to a new material until we are completely certain it is an improvement on existing linings.

We trust this answers your enquiry, thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.

Regards,

Waitrose Customer Sales and Support.

From:      Canalily

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Waitrose

Dear Sir.

Thank you for your prompt reply.

You have, however, missed the point of my enquiry.

I did not write to ask about the safety of BPA. As you say, there is controversy in this area. Some think it safe, others do not.

Having had breast cancer, I prefer to adopt the precautionary approach. It is my intention to buy only those foods that do not contain any BPA whatsoever. Hence my question is: which tinned foods stocked by Waitrose do NOT contain plastic linings that may contain BPA?

With kind regards

Canalily

From:      Waitrose

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Thank you for your return email.

I have posed your question to the buyers and unfortunately, there is not a definitive answer :

'In terms of a list of which cans have BPA in the linings, this will include the majority of canned goods. There are some products such as canned citrus fruit and pineapple that contain much less because the can bodies are lined with tin plate rather than lacquer, but even for these products the can ends will be coated with lacquer which contains BPA.

I would like to reiterate that the products are safe to consume but as the customer has particular concerns about any cans containing BPA then the most sensible approach would be to avoid all canned foods.'

I apologise for not being able to fully answer your request.

Regards,

Waitrose Customer Sales and Support.

From:      Coles

Subject:   Tinned Foods

To:          Canalily

Dear Ms Canalily

Thank you for your email and apologies for the delayed response.

Your feedback regarding the BPA was forwarded to our Quality Control department and they have advised that they do not have a list of the products that contain BPA.

They have advised that if you are to provide specific details of the products, then they can advise.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us. Our business is committed to serving our customers and feedback like yours offers us insight into how well we are achieving this. We look forward to being of service to you in the future.

Yours sincerely

CUSTOMER CARE CONTACT CENTRE

So, it seems that all tinned food and drinks are likely to contain Bisphenol-A. The manufacturers protest that the BPA contaminated linings are essential for ‘food safety’ reasons.

A question: Food canning technology has been around for a century or so. I seem to remember eating lots of tinned food when I was growing up and I never once got botulism or died. What did we do before we started lining the tins with resins and plastic?

Another question: Bisphenol-A has been found in mothers’ milk. If we are taking steps to ban BPA contaminating babies’ milk in their bottles, shouldn’t we also be thinking about banning BPA from the food that mothers eat and then pass on to their babies through their breast milk?

All in all I find the replies from the supermarkets rather lame. I award an 'A' for effort to M&S and Waitrose. Tesco and Woolworth’s did not even bother to reply.


More fun stuff about BPA:
What Labels Don't Tell Us - a report about BPA by Breast Cancer Fund

Tips on avoiding BPA, Phthalates and Triclosan  

And a few more...

BPA and male infertility

BPA may damage the immune system

Mouse babies get breast cancer

A sceptical scientist does research

BPA alters genes in live human breast cells

A long article with lots of arguments

Here is a List of American companies that use BPA free tins. If anyone knows of any European or Australian tinned goods that are BPA free, please add a comment below.