Myths & Truths
BPA FREE
“The materials used to make tin cans are not all the same. The quality of the materials that come in contact with our fish are only of exceptional quality and of the highest health safety standards. Our company in recent years has collaborated with leading companies in the production of tin cans, as well as with research institutions, and has invested significant resources to develop and use packaging materials that are free of bisphenol A. We want to communicate this course of action to the world and announce that our new line of tuna products that will be released is marked BPA free.”
The truth
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a substance used in the manufacturing of certain materials and agents that come in contact with food, such as polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, that are used in varnishes and coatings. BPA can migrate to food from the material or object it comes in contact with thus leading to the exposure of consumers to BPA. The use of BPA as a monomer to produce plastic materials is approved by EU Regulation No 182/2011 10/2011 of the European Commission. The approval is subject to a specific migration limit (SML) of 0.05 mg BPA per kg of food (mg / kg). Also, the tolerated daily intake (ADR) has been set, equal to 4 μg / kg body weight per day.
In December 2014, the European Food Safety Authority, after examining the available data and published scientific studies, issued a statement that the BPA dietary exposure was lower than the TDI (tolerated daily intake) and concluded that there was no health concern with the estimated exposure levels. The use of this substance in the manufacturing of baby bottles made of polycarbonate plastic has been prohibited, solely based on precautionary principle.
Our company, in recent years, has invested significant resources, and in collaboration with research institutions as well as leading companies in the production of tin cans, developed and uses packaging materials that are free of bisphenol. We want to communicate this effort to consumers and raise awareness towards our new BPA free range of tuna products that will be released.
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Preservatives
Canned seafood products contain preservatives
The truth
Greek and European legislation explicitly prohibit the use of preservatives, particularly in the category of canned fish. For the preservation of canned food, the process that is followed is exactly the one we follow at home. We cook the food item for a long time and then store it in sealed glass or metal containers. This type of heat treatment destroys dangerous micro-organisms, while the airtight storage allows food to be kept at room temperature for a longer time period.
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Mercury
Canned tuna is dangerous for our health because it contains mercury.
The truth
Canned tuna of the large species, namely yellowfin tuna* (thunnus albacores*) and white or long-fin tuna (thunnus alalunga), contains medium levels of mercury. Canned tuna of the smallest species, such as Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), however, contains less than 1/3 of the mercury concentration of the above species. At TRATA we use only Skipjack tuna and control the concentration of mercury in each batch of tuna, thus maintaining much lower acceptance limits than those set by European legislation. At the same time, we contribute to the rational and sustainable management of catches, since the Skipjack tuna species does not belong to the official Red List of endangered species, as published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In contrast, other species of tuna, such as yellowfin tuna and white or long-fin tuna, are classified as…
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Scurvy
If you consume canned food, you run the risk of getting scurvy.
The truth
Scurvy was once a common disease amongst sailors, explorers, and the military since they were exclusively forced to eat foods high in preservatives and low in vitamin C for long periods of time. In developed countries nowadays, scurvy rarely appears and, if it does, it is the result of poor eating habits and minimal to zero consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. So, by combining your favorite canned TRATA with vegetables rich in vitamin C, which have not undergone intense heat treatment, you enjoy the benefits of a balanced diet.
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GMO
Canned fish contain genetically modified organisms
The truth
Canned foods that do not display a GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) label do not contain modified organisms. EU law mandates that all Genetically Modified Foods for human or animal consumption that consist of or are produced with Genetically Modified Organisms (unless their presence is less than 0.9% of the food or the presence of the ingredient is accidental or technically inevitable), bear the GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) label. In Greece especially, the use of the NON-GMO (Non-Genetically Modified Organisms) label on foods that do not originate from Genetically Modified Crops or have not been produced by using Genetically Modified Organisms is misleading advertising and is not acceptable under law.
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Histamine
Canned fish can cause scombroid poisoning.
The truth
At KONVA, all our fish undergo thermal processing and sterilization and are packaged within 24 hours, which keeps them fresh in their sterilized containers (cans). This way, we ensure that our fish won't spoil and there is no fear of histamine poisoning, which is mainly caused by improper processing practices.
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