Pomi tomato users?

secdroid · **Joined:** Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:51 pm **Posts:** 390

I know Jeff Novick uses Pomi no-salt tomato products in his SNAP recipes. I had considered ordering them online, but the PBS show "America's Test Kitchen" rated them dead last in a tomato comparison.

The web site for the "Cooks Illustrated" magazine from the ATK folks seems to indicate that the issue was not lack of salt. I don't always use no-salt tomato products because they tend to be more expensive and/or harder to find. Recommendations anyone?

Cooks Illustrated discussion -- http://www.cooksillustrated.com/otherdocs/detail.asp?docid=2603

Quote:

Another Kind of Pomi Tomatoes

I was very surprised to find in your article on canned crushed tomatoes (March/April 1997) that our Pomi tomatoes came in last place compared to other products. I must say, however, that I was relieved to find out what you were comparing. You see, all the products mentioned were crushed, with the exception of our strained tomatoes. I think that Pomi chopped tomatoes, not our strained product, should have been included in the article. I am sure that if the comparison was made with this product, the results would be quite different.

Patrizio Spagnoletto

Parmalat USA

Teaneck, NJ

Unfortunately, we were unaware of Pomi chopped tomatoes when assembling the field for our tasting. Therefore, we decided to hold a second blind tasting with the two top finishers from the original tasting (Progresso and Muir Glen) and Pomi chopped tomatoes. Our tasters (from the editorial and kitchen staffs of the magazine) clearly preferred Muir Glen and Progresso to the Pomi chopped tomatoes.

Like our favorite canned crushed tomatoes, Pomi chopped tomatoes have plenty of seeds and tomato chunks. However, like the low-rated Pomi strained tomatoes, our tasters found the flavor of Pomi chopped tomatoes to be bland and watery. Both the chopped and strained Pomi tomatoes lack the sweet, ripe tomato flavor we prefer in any canned (or aseptically packaged) tomato product.

AlwaysAgnes · **Joined:** Sat Sep 03, 2011 11:45 am **Posts:** 1395

The Pomi tomato products are pricey. Perhaps Jeff favors them in part because of the packaging (BPA-free)? I did see Pomi strained tomatoes at Big Lots for $1, and I picked up one to try. Haven't used it yet, and it's been in the pantry since around Christmas. Guess I don't used strained tomato much.

The stewed tomatoes I buy have salt, but I can get salt-free diced tomatoes half-way reasonable at Fry's (Kroger). Store brand. That's probably what I use most. I usually try to buy them when they're on sale, though. I bought some no-salt diced tomatoes yesterday for 69 cents a can. I saw some Pomi when I was there--didn't notice what style tomato it was, but I did notice that it was almost $4 for the box.

ETeSelle · **Joined:** Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:09 am **Posts:** 4994

They taste good to ME. And since you're not using them ALONE, I don't see that it matters much.

I get either POMI or the cheaper store-brand no-salt-added tomatoes. I've gotten other brands, too. They all taste the same to me.

secdroid · **Joined:** Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:51 pm **Posts:** 390

AlwaysAgnes wrote:

The stewed tomatoes I buy have salt, but I can get salt-free diced tomatoes half-way reasonable at Fry's (Kroger). Store brand. That's probably what I use most. I usually try to buy them when they're on sale, though. I bought some no-salt diced tomatoes yesterday for 69 cents a can.

I get most of my no-salt tomato products as Kroger store brands. Diced tomatoes, like you, but also tomato paste and plain tomato sauce. The quality seems fine, to me. I'll have to be vigilant and make sure to take advantage of Kroger sales.

Sometimes I mix salted & no-salt half-and-half. My taste buds aren't really up for completely salt-free food.

Kroger regular prices are usually higher than WalMart regular prices so I get most of my staples at WalMart. Limited selection of no-salt, but they sell a brand called Furmano's that is somewhat lightly seasoned with sea salt. I like the whole peeled, puree, and diced. There is 875 mg sodium in a 28 oz can. Not too bad, particularly for SNAP recipes where you add lots of no-salt veggies, beans, and a starch.
***
Kroger does have far better fresh produce than WalMart. Some is pricey, but the specials are great.

ETeSelle · **Joined:** Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:09 am **Posts:** 4994

Just a note: The reason to avoid canned stuff is BPA. Eden foods (no-salt-added beans) doesn't use it but every other canned item has BPA I believe. That is one reason Jeff recommend POMI since they are not canned.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/2 ... nd-drinks/

And on Eden foods: http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view. ... les_id=178

secdroid · **Joined:** Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:51 pm **Posts:** 390

ETeSelle wrote:

Just a note: The reason to avoid canned stuff is BPA. Eden foods (no-salt-added beans) doesn't use it but every other canned item has BPA I believe. That is one reason Jeff recommend POMI since they are not canned.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/2 ... nd-drinks/

And on Eden foods: http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view. ... les_id=178

I think you make a very good point.

I rarely use canned beans any longer. Since I learned how to cook dried beans properly (thanks to this board), I prefer to cook beans from scratch. Better tasting product, healthier, and better for the environment.

My exposure to BPA has been greatly reduced by cooking more from scratch, rather than using canned and frozen processed foods. I try to follow the BPA reduction recommendations in this Consumer Reports article -- http://news.consumerreports.org/health/ ... evels.html

It turns out that Kroger has also gone BPA-free in their store brand products. I couldn't find any info about WalMart going BPA-free. Time to adjust my shopping habits.

Quote:

Cincinnati-based Kroger announced last week that in addition to making sure there is no BPA in the baby products it sells, the store is ridding the chemical from its store brand canned foods and purchasing BPA-free paper for its store receipts.

Kroger spokesman Keith Dailey said the move was in response to customer feedback and emerging concerns regarding the safety of BPA.

“While there is no conclusive scientific evidence that minimal exposure to BPA in can linings poses any risks to consumers, Kroger has begun a process that we believe will result in the removal of BPA in the linings of canned goods in all of our corporate brand items,” he told the Columbus-Times Dispatch.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/eco-nomics/ ... -receipts/

ETeSelle · **Joined:** Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:09 am **Posts:** 4994

Good to know! Hope Publix follows (I can't stand Kroger).

secdroid · **Joined:** Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:51 pm **Posts:** 390

Reader caution -- The quoted April 2, 2012 article by LAWeeky and NRDC, are hardly what I would consider the most reliable sources on the planet.

Quote:

BPA, a synthetic compound that mimics estrogen, is used to harden polycarbonate plastic and to make protective epoxy resin linings for cans. Plastics marked PC, "other" or number 7 may contain BPA. Studies have shown that BPA can leach out of packaging and into foods, especially with acidic contents like tomatoes....

Nearly all U.S. grocery stores (including Trader Joe's and Whole Foods) now offer a confusing mash-up of products with and without BPA, so it's best to contact a company's customer relations department for questions about specific items.

However, the article goes on to cite a U. C. Berkley scientist with an interesting point (emphasis added) --

Quote:

One problem the food industry faces is developing safe alternatives to BPA. Dr. Megan Schwarzman, a family physician and research scientist at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, told L.A. Weekly this morning in an email: "There is a broader issue at play here as well that I think it's critical to bring into the conversation. While many manufacturers have switched out of BPA (and market 'BPA-free' products), the substitutes are often close chemical relatives such as BPS (Bisphenol S) or BPF (Bisphenol F). And there's little reason to suspect these compounds are any safer than BPA."

Schwarzman added: "We need to remove BPA from as many uses as possible, as soon as possible, but we must simultaneously ask for information on the chemical's substitutes. And wherever possible, we should look to replacement materials that don't simply rely on another chemical whose safety is unproven."

http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2012 ... bpa_ta.php

So, it would appear that a can labelled "BPA-free" might not be a guarantee of safety and that prudent BPA reduction actions like those in the Consumer Reports article cited in an earlier post might still be wise.

Reducing canned (and aseptic pack) food usage, storing and cooking in glass or stainless steel, and avoiding aluminum and carbonate water bottles seem like a prudent course of action.

Mayo clinic RD advice on BPA -- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bpa/AN01955

healthyvegan · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:35 pm

Pomi is all we use, too. Taste awesome to me

secdroid · **Joined:** Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:51 pm **Posts:** 390

healthyvegan wrote:

Pomi is all we use, too. Taste awesome to me

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to track them down and try them.

Very interesting web site design. Beautiful pictures.

May I ask about the Potato Taco recipe? Sounds like a promising recipe, but no taco seasoning? Salsa is great, but no chili powder or cumin? http://www.thehealthyvegans.com/2012/03/potato-tacos-because-potatoes-are-way.html

healthyvegan · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:31 am

no seasoning, just what is in the salsa, you can always spice it up, I just love the taste of them as is

Vegankit · **Joined:** Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:18 pm **Posts:** 1382

I used to love Cook's Illustrated - had a subscription.

Alas this is disappointing because I don't believe this was a fair evaluation of products. They were not comparing salt free tomatoes against Pomi which is salt free. I would have thought that they would be more careful to compare apples with apples.

I suspected that the canned Progresso brand tomatoes are full of salt. Since I never saw the original article, the closest I could find was on Progresso's website where they touted that they were the winner - and it as Progresso® Italian-Style Whole Peeled Tomatoes with Basil - a half cup serving size has 260mg Sodium compared Pomi which has 10mg. http://progressofoods.com/?View=News.

I couldn't find info on the type of Muir Glenn tomatoes they used but I suspect they had added salt as well.

secdroid · **Joined:** Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:51 pm **Posts:** 390

Vegankit wrote:

I used to love Cook's Illustrated - had a subscription.

Alas this is disappointing because I don't believe this was a fair evaluation of products. They were not comparing salt free tomatoes against Pomi which is salt free....

I couldn't find info on the type of Muir Glenn tomatoes they used but I suspect they had added salt as well.

You are probably right.

I don't subscribe to the magazine, but my brother and sister-in-law love the magazine and cookbooks. I do watch the TV program. It has taught me a lot about technique and tools, but they are obviously oriented toward high-fat, high-salt cuisine. I don't find their dishes appetizing any longer. (And I'm surprised by that!)

I have seen a number of TV chefs endorse Muir Glen tomatoes, particularly the fire-roasted tomatoes. I want to give those a try. Progresso tomatoes and soups are no longer on my shopping list because of their high sodium levels. I don't even miss them.

The more I read and learn, the more I have come to believe that I want to go whole-Novick :lol:

I'm going to switch to no-salt tomatoes only, along with ditching caffeine completely. Since a number of McDougallers have said that they like Pomi (Thank You!), I will have to give them a try.

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