Hygiene and practicality: Food packaged in steel cans is ready for consumption, in perfect hygienic conditions. “Right now, most municipalities do not even have clean, potable water to prepare and cook most items. In the can, they are ready and can be consumed immediately”, explains the food engineer. She highlights that foods that have an easy-open lid are even more practical, as they do not require a can opener.
Conservation: canned foods are packaged so that they are preserved for up to 5 years, without the need for refrigeration. “The packaging process allows the food to be free of microorganisms, preserved in an airtight environment, and there is no need to add chemical preservatives. Ease of storage, without the need for a refrigerator, is essential at a time like this”, highlights Thaís Fagury.
Security: The steel can is tamper-proof and extremely resistant. Even if, at some point, it comes into contact with rainwater, until it is opened it will keep the interior intact. “The food cannot be used unless the cans are bloated, which indicates a failure in the canning system”, says the president of Abeaço.
Nutrition: Canned foods are as nutritious as fresh foods, with advantages in some cases. “Canned sardines are a very important source of calcium for everyone, especially children and pregnant women, who really need the mineral to stay healthy. This is because the fish bones, when cooked in the can, become very soft and can be eaten” explains the food engineer.
Sustainability: An important issue when choosing items to donate is to check whether the packaging is sustainable. This is the case with steel cans. In addition to being 100% and infinitely recyclable, if discarded in the environment they transform into iron oxide within an average of 3 years. “In an emergency situation like this, we must opt for packaging that, in addition to being safe, has a lower environmental impact. And today we know that plastic packaging contributes to worsening the flood situation, as it clogs drains, pollutes rivers and water, killing fauna and flora”, considers Thaís Fagury.
The best cans to donate: powdered milk, peas, corn, tomatoes, sardines, tuna, black beans, white beans, lentils, chickpeas, ready-made canned salads, dog and cat food in steel cans.
Source: Cliping Abeaço May/24
