Campbell Soup Company to move to non-BPA lined cans in the US

Campbell Soup Company is to complete the transition to cans which do not use Bisphenol A (BPA) linings by the middle of 2017.

The company began using cans with linings made from acrylic or polyester materials in March 2016 and will continue to introduce the new linings across its US and Canadian portfolio through 2017.

Campbell first announced its intention to move away from BPA linings in 2012, in response to consumer feedback. Since then, Campbell has tested hundreds of alternatives. The transition faced a number of technical challenges. This included identifying linings that would ensure the safety of more than 600 different recipes, such as its tomato-based products, which are naturally acidic and can react with some linings over time.

“Our priority throughout this transition has been, and will continue to be, food safety,” said Mike Mulshine, Senior Programme Manager, Packaging. “We have tested and conducted trials with hundreds of alternatives to BPA lining and believe the acrylic and polyester options will ensure our food remains safe, affordable and tastes great.”

As well as the enormity of the task of transitioning its products to non-BPA lined cans, another challenge facing Campbell was the financial side of the transition. The cost of changing its entire portfolio to non-BPA linings is significant. Campbell has had to balance making this investment with other business priorities. Importantly, Campbell do not plan to pass these costs to consumers.

The products that will be packaged in non-BPA lined cans include all varieties of Campbell’s soups and gravies, Swanson broth and SpaghettiOs pasta. The company is on track to have 75% of its soup portfolio in non-BPA lined cans by December 2016. The company is also currently testing alternatives to BPA coatings used on other packaging, including aluminum cans used for V8 beverages and metal screw top lids on glass jars. The company is on track to transition these products to a non-BPA solution by the middle of 2017.

Campbell also offers a wide range of products in packaging which currently does not use BPA, including cartons, pouches and PET bottles.

BPA has been widely used in metal food packaging for more than 40 years and is one of the safest packaging options in the world. This is confirmed by extensive scientific studies and regulations put in place by the US Food and Drug Administration and many international regulatory agencies.