Why Glass-Jar Chickpeas Outshine Cans: A Warning on BPA
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Approachable and nutritious, chickpeas are a stellar source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Pre-cooked, hassle-free options like canned and Tetra Pak varieties have the convenience factor covered, catering to various recipes like hummus. Yet, it's essential to rethink your chickpea choice, thanks to the Austrian Association for Consumer Information (VKI) and their findings on contaminants in chickpeas.
Given the increased attention on contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, nickel, and bisphenol A (BPA), the VKI tested several ready-to-eat chickpea products. The results? Six glass-jar products scored top marks, while 18 canned ones, unfortunately, contained BPA and other issues.
Be Wary of BPA
The six glass-jar products recommended by the VKI are a win-win. Most notably, none of them contained BPA. You might wonder, "What's the big deal about BPA?" The hormone-disrupting chemical found in plastics and can linings can seep into food, potentially causing reproductive impairment, increased breast cancer risk, obesity, and behavioral issues in children[1].
Staying away from BPA is indeed a healthier move. To this end, well-informed health officials emphasize using glass or stainless-steel food containers instead of plastic or canned options to minimize exposure[1]. So, choosing glass-jar chickpeas can lower your BPA intake compared to the canned variety.
Here's a bargain-friendly list of four German brands you can score:
- dm Bio Chickpeas, Content: 350g, Drain weight: 220g
- Dennree Chickpeas, Content: 350g, Drain weight: 250g
- Alnatura Chickpeas, Content: 330g, Drain weight: 220g
- Marschland Demeter Bio Chickpeas, Content: 330g, Drain weight: 220g
They range in price from around 40 to 95 cents per 100g drain weight. Your wallet and health both win!
Sources: ntv.de, awi[2]
- Health
- Consumer
- Food
- Glass jar vs can
[1] - Hormone Disrupting Chemicals and Fertility: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/media/Briefing-Note-hormone-disrupting-chemicals-and-fertility.pdf[2] - ntv.de, awi: [Link to source]
- Embracing glass-jar chickpeas over canned ones is a recommendation under the community policy towards healthier food choices, as six tested glass jar products were free of BPA, a hormone-disrupting chemical found in can linings.
- In line with the health-and-wellness lifestyle, it is advisable to minimize exposure to BPA through the use of glass or stainless-steel food containers, as highlighted by various health officials.
- To empower consumers with informed choices, here are four affordable German brands of glass-jar chickpeas that score low in BPA content: dm Bio Chickpeas, Dennree Chickpeas, Alnatura Chickpeas, and Marschland Demeter Bio Chickpeas.
