Canned Tomatoes and the Specific Carbohydrate Diet

SCD and canned tomatoes – do they go together?

The short answer is no, but not so fast….


Canned tomatoes are not allowed on SCD typically, but there are brands, like Pomi (pictured below) that have no additives, artificial flavors, or preservatives. The only ingredient is tomatoes. Pomi is not GMO and the box is BPA free.

One of the main reasons Elaine Gottschall disallowed canned tomatoes (and other veggies) is because she was afraid of deception in food labeling. Please scroll down on this list of questions and you’ll find her answer about canned vegetables. Labeling laws have improved since the time of Breaking the Vicious Cycle and these questions.

My fellow blogger Comfy Tummy also found that Italian law mandates the food labels show any ingredient even if it’s a trace amount.

That all being said, I’m curious to know what other SCD followers think about using canned tomatoes. We all know how time consuming making sauces from fresh tomatoes can be and this could be a huge time saver.

Please leave comments below or visit SCD For Life on Facebook to join the discussion.

Sherry Lipp

11 Comments

  1. David Fenton

    Elaine said we must have a letter from the manufacturer on their letterhead confirming no additives, manufacturing aids, undisclosed stuff.
    Do you have a letter for the above?
    We have a letter for Muir Glen
    Thank you
    David

    • I didn’t with them because food labeling laws have changed so much. I used to do that with everything when I first started the diet in 2000 and I still would if I wanted to try anything that had “natural flavorings” in the label. However, Italian law requires all ingredients be listed no matter how small.

    • Maren C McLaren

      David, Which Muir Glen do you have a letter about?

  2. David Fenton

    Hi Sherry
    I have seen a lot of reference supporting what you said, that Italian labeling laws are very strict. However, I have never seen or heard of the documentation that supports your understanding. Do you have something that by chance you can point me to? It would be appreciated
    Regards
    David

    • I have read it in many places also. In 2011 the UK passed several new food labeling laws – some of which were aimed at helping people with Celiac disease be able to know for sure if they are buying a wheat-free product. Here is a website about UK food laws – http://www.eurofoodlaw.com/labelling/ – I haven’t been able to find specifics for that, but it’s a pretty big site.

      Here is another site that breaks down some of the labeling laws – http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=265ca8b0-d14d-4af7-9137-28c570720e49

      At the time Elaine was more likely to mistrust food labels – and for good reason, especially in the era she had her daughter on the diet. These days things have changed quite a bit and companies do not want to be sued for mislabeling, so I tend to trust what I have found here (not everything). There is a contact form on the company website if you want to get something from them. They may even be able to explain their labeling requirements. I’m curious to learn more myself now that I have looked at the EU website above – I may send them a note next week.

  3. Cheryl Hunter

    I have used the Pomi chopped tomatoes and like them very much. As for packaged foods from the United States; they don’t have to list the ingredient if it comprises less than 5% of the product. I don’t use anything packaged here. It is too bad that we companies in the US are so deceptive but I am finding that many things are.

  4. Has anyone discovered Delallo tomato paste? It just has tomatoes and salt listed on the ingredients and it is made in italy. it seems too good to be true to find an scd legal tomato paste so I wanted to know if anyone else has discovered this brand. Thanks!

    • Alessandro

      I’m Italian and I can assure you Delallo is never heard of. They are an American company and I really doubt they package in Italy.

  5. Trader Joes wouldn’t lie to me! ;p I’m having some canned diced tomatoes where the only ingredient is diced tomatoes.

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