One of the ways of identifying Ball’s BPA-free lids from older versions is by the “Made in USA” printed on the lid. As a reader recently asked, what about their more decorative lids? Ball’s Elite and quilted jelly jars come with lids printed with a design, and Jarden Home Brands, the parent company, suggests looking for the “dot pattern interspersed between the decorative scrollwork atop the lids” to identify them as BPA-free.
In a comparison between the BPA-free lids and an older one (above), there’s also a distinct difference in the color of coating on the underside of the lid — the BPA-free lid is a tan shade, while the older one is white.
Previous posts on BPA in canning lids:
• Mastering Food Preservation: On BPA in Canning Lids
• Mastering Food Preservation: Ball’s BPA-Free Canning Lids
• Mastering Food Preservation: More on Identifying Ball’s BPA-Free Lids
Diary of a Tomato 
Now I’m inclined to go and look at all of my lids. This is a truly informative post. Thank you so much!
You’re welcome!
Reblogged this on Livin' La Vida LOCAphile and commented:
More much appreciated insight from Diary of a Tomato on BPA-free canning lids.
Thanks for helping to spread the information!
Thank you. We have gone back to using the old glass top canning jars to avoid the BPA lids. This is a great help
It’s nice to now have the choice!
Thank you for the informative post, now I have to go check my lids.
Hope this helps you identify them!
Very useful information! I’ll make sure I find the right lids for my Christmas preserves.
From what I’ve seen in the stores, most of the inventory is now BPA-free!