Abstract: A protective coating composition for coating interior surfaces of beer, beverage, and food containers, as well as interior and exterior surfaces of can ends, comprises a polymeric binder of emulsion copolymerized ethylenic monomers in the presence of an unsaturated polyester dispersed into water with an aqueous dispersed epoxy-acrylic graft copolymer dispersant. The preferred polymeric binder comprises by weight between 0.1% and 40% unsaturated polyester, between 20% and 80% emulsion copolymerized ethylenic unsaturated monomers, and at least 20% dispersant, where the emulsion copolymerized monomers crosslink with the water dispersed unsaturated polyester.