Three cans with pull tabs
FOOD NEWS
Why Is Only Some Canned Food Equipped With Easy Pull Tabs?
By Haldan Kirsch
Pull tab canned goods on a table
Pull tabs for canned goods are more challenging and expensive than the standard seamless seal because the lid and the tab are manufactured separately before being riveted together.
Cans of drinks lined up on a conveyor belt
Scoring the opening on a can takes a lot of engineering, too. Soda or beer cans need a pressurized environment that can withstand temperature changes without rupturing the can.
A person opening a can with a pull tab
It must be strong enough not to burst open but weak enough to open it easily. The same can be applied to food cans, but the cost of riveting the tab to the lid isn't worth it.
A woman looking at canned food in the grocery store
Although it's more convenient for customers, some companies aren't willing to raise their prices and deal with the extra manufacturing complications for pull tab lids.