Some of you guys might remember awhile back when I posted my blog article: “Why I’m Planning on Avoiding Canned Foods – (The Surprising Facts About Bisphenol-A)”. So of you *might* be wondering why I’m now writing a review of canned foods. (As many of you know, I ONLY review products that *I* ask for and seek out, I don’t play the “review random crap” game.)
To give a little recap, in my article on BPA I had explained:
BPA is an endocrine disruptor – basically a substance that interferes with the production, secretion, transport, action, function and elimination of natural hormones. When BPA imitates our body’s own hormones, it is hazardous for our health.
BPA is found in epoxy resins which are used as coatings inside food cans. Studies have shown that BPA leaches into canned foods that are acidic, salty and fatty, (like coconut milk, tomatoes, soup, and vegetables).
A recent CDC report found BPA in the urine of 93% of adults. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that families who ate fresh food for three days with no canned food, and using only glass storage containers, experienced a 60% reduction of BPA in their urine.
If you want to reduce your exposure to BPA, you have to reduce your consumption of canned foods and bottled drinks as much as possible (unless it is specifically labeled BPA free, of course).
So there’s the kicker! “Unless its specifically labeled BPA free”. That’s what I was looking for, and that’s why I asked Natural Value, a company that sells organic, BPA free canned goods, if they would be so kind as to let me try their canned coconut products so that I could share my findings with all you lovely folks!
About Natural Value Products
Natural Value’s motto is “Live Well. Spend Less.”
Natural Value started in 1995 with 25 products and one compelling mission: To make natural and organic foods and environmentally friendly nonfood products more affordable. Today, they have close to 200 products!
From the Natural Value website (click here to visit!):
We think that a healthy lifestyle should be affordable for everyone. We developed Natural Value because we felt that we could find and deliver premium quality natural and planet-friendly products to the marketplace in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. To that end, we’ve managed to streamline the distribution process and lower the cost of living well. Our goal is not to woo Wall Street with large profit margins. It is to reward your commitment to living responsibly with lower prices on natural products. We prefer a business model where everyone, including you, profits.
We believe in the concept of fair trade. We are proud to say we were trading fairly before it became popular. We pick a manufacturer, pay them a fair price, and then stick with them. We don’t shop around for packers just to save a few cents and we aren’t moving our manufacturing business to China. The quality you buy from us today is the same quality we will have next week, next month, and next year.
We’re a family that’s been doing this for a long time, since 1995. We don’t have a plan to sell out or change how we operate. This works for us. We especially want to help independent retail stores. We know consumers have more shopping choices than ever before.
We want to help stores stay competitive by offering a fairly priced center of store. We allow stores to offer their customers the exact same canned beans or toilet paper or mustard for half the price of our competitors. We are confident this will increase the share of basket for stores who carry our products.
We take pride in the products we provide and guarantee them. We test all of our products ourselves. We are never going to sacrifice quality for price; that just isn’t our style.
We offer quality products at great prices. We are passionate about what we do. We are straightforward. We’re going to keep doing what we are doing because we love it and we believe it is important.
My Thoughts on Natural Value Canned Coconut Products
Okay, so I strive to be as honest as I can in product reviews, almost to the point of judging products a little too harshly. So I’ll be up front and say- I have had very little experience with canned coconut products, so I am can’t say with much authority how these products measure up to others. BUT! I can say that these products contain:
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No preservatives
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No stabilizers
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Are packed in a BPA free lining
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Contain no preservatives
Of the products sent to me to try, I used the coconut milk as a marinade for chicken, and in a chickpea curry (recipes to be posted soon!) and I tried my hand at making coconut cream mousse with disastrous results (I just couldn’t get it to whip, darnit!).. so I’ll be trying again with a coconut cream pudding.
I’ve found that I’m not a huge fan of coconut water, but I’ll be using it in smoothies and maybe even an alcoholic beverage or two, so there’s more to explore and discover!
Overall, I am thrilled with the companies mission, morals and values and I’m happy to find a truly NATURAL and BPA FREE canned coconut product option that is affordable! I’ll be asking my local grocery store to stock up on these products for easy purchasing in the future! <3
I don’t. I can’t stand coconut of any kind, shape or form.
You know what’s funny? I don’t like sweetened coconut flakes.. but I like coconut milk and cream in foods and cosmetics! lol!
I don’t do much with coconut, but it’s great that there are BPA free canned options available 🙂
I really would like to give up canned products too, but it’s a slow process so far.
I love coconut flakes/ coconut flavored stuff! I don’t really like the water though. I do always keep a can around for a curry sauce. Love that BPA free alternative!
Yeah, curry is hands down my FAVORITE way to use coconut milk! <3
Oh well yay! Glad you found a good option for canned products.
I can’t say I use coconut products for anything but enjoyment since we have no food allergies here.
Thanks for sharing this! I have been a been fan of coconut products lately (although I would never drink coconut water or milk on its own… not the tastiest). I actually hadn’t thought about issues with canned products so thanks for the tip. 🙂 🙂
Of course!! <3 <3
Amazing post!
Have a nice week-end!
Photographe Gil Zetbase
http://www.gilzetbase.com/
I’ve never used coconut cream, but we use coconut oil on a regular basis (it’s packaged in plastic, and I don’t know if it’s BPA free or not…). My husband likes coconut water, and it comes packaged in this cardboard-like container (both the oil and water we get from Costco). For the few canned products we do get (e.g. a bulk sized can of tomato sauce), I think I need to find alternatives! Thanks for this.
That’s one thing I’ve been meaning to get.. a Costco card! lol. I wonder if they sell this brand…?
I’ve never used coconut milk but I do love coconuts. I also love their mission statement, more companies should care this much… it’s sad that they don’t… Good review Gingi xox
I haven’t seen this brand at my local grocery stores, but I only buy BPA free canned food. Did you refrigerate the coconut milk overnight and drain the liquid from the can before whipping it? Also, you need to use the full fat, not the lite coconut milk. Let me know if I can help you figure out why yours wouldn’t whip. 🙂
I don’t think I drained enough water.. plus I put it in the back of my fridge where it got REALLY cold and the top got REALLY hard.. almost like butter! It was strange.. haha…
I’ve used coconut water when I’ve done singing performances, supposedly it keeps you hydrated. I’ve also used coconut cream to make vegan caramel which was absolutely amazing. If you put it in the fridge it’ll separate and you can use that cream to make things like caramel and fudge without using any dairy products. I would definitely give whipping it a try again I’ve made whipped coconut cream before and it’s delicious. The key is refrigerating it!