"Food Quality" Paint Cans for Storage

[David-Audrey]

Regarding the “Food Grade” paint cans I mentioned on the NNPG Net tonight; here is some links and some information.

First there are a couple of sites that sell them…links below.  And, there is ample proof on the web that they are being used for all sorts of food storage.  But I’m now a little confused.

One of the companies that sells them is "The Gary Company."  On their site, in the product specifications for one of their "Gold" lined cans (Link #1 below), it says in the product specifications, and I quote…”While the liner on the gold lined can is FDA compliant, it is not approved for direct contact with food. “  YET, in in another part of their site, they have a 2 min video (http://www.thecarycompany.com/metal-paint-can-30wcgc ) that says clearly they can be used for food storage.

To confuse things a little more, the same company (Cary Company) has this posted on the web on Pinterest.
The Cary Company - Containers, Packaging and More (https://www.pinterest.com/thecarycompany/) saved to Our Products: Paint Cans (https://www.pinterest.com/thecarycompany/our-products-paint-cans/).  It says, and I quote, "1 GALLON GOLD LINED CAN WITH EARS, BAIL AND LID | Also known as gold phenolic, this can is generally used for light solvents and oil-based products. Food products must be packaged prior to placing in can. #paint #can #tin #metal #food"

It’s my impression that they are in fact, food quality...they use materials approved by the FDA, however, they have not gone through the process of getting direct contact with food “certification.” 

In any event, I've included a terrific site (Link #4)…it provides easy, quick way to know for sure if you can store food in a container.

If you check out the web, there are a lot of people using "Food Grade Paint Cans" for food storage.  And while they are more costly, perhaps not so much since you don’t need a can sealer.

One more thing...Unlike, for example, a #10 can...if it gets dented in the wrong place; there is the possibility of the top will become a little out of round and, in some cases, the seal could be broken.

Hope this information helps!

David

Link #1 – One source Metal Paint Cans - http://www.thecarycompany.com/containers/paint-cans/metal?p=2&wvideo=laxv6idrb7
Link #2 – Company lining video (2.5 min) - http://www.thecarycompany.com/metal-paint-can-30wcgc
Link #3 – Second source - https://www.houseofcans.com/paint-cans/paint-cans/metal-cans?houseofcans=5kf18d8iqd2295nhau03m83gp4
Link #4 – How to identify food quality container - http://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Food-Grade-Buckets

[TWP]

David, Thank you for the links.

I did some drilling on the Gary Company:

http://www.thecarycompany.com/containers/paint-cans/metal?dir=asc&drum_lining=196&order=price

These are the cans which appear (??) to be food grade.

Their "wholesale/bulk" prices are best in quantity, at around $2.98-$3.06 each if you buy many (238-170 cans).

I could see a group purchase of these making it more do-able.  I, as one family, would be hard pressed to find a use for more than 50 of the 1 gal. cans and the pricing would limit me to probably only 20 or so.

Buying smaller size cans might work too.

Because these cans may be re-sealed, I think they have more utility than the crimped lid cans which are really one-time-only.

These look good for dry food storage, NOT wet.  I'd think about also using mylar as an inner package.

DO NOTE that they come with or without bails.  This will change your storage space needs as the bails are not quitr as compact.

[edit] nuh gud spel

[230gr]

We have used friction sealed gallon cans for more than 30 years to store dry foods, herbs and spices. We always double bagged them and never had a problem. I can not recommend the bails as they are much more a nuisance than a help. You might consider rubbing them with wax as after 10 years of use and reuse, they begin to spot rust but only on the outside.