Dented can - to chuck or not to chuck, that is the question!
Jan 8, 2015 8:31:49 GMT 10
remnantprep and Frank like this
Post by StepfordRenegade on Jan 8, 2015 8:31:49 GMT 10
So my food order arrived today and I've noticed a few of the cans are dented. I've heard that it can sometimes leach nasties into the food, and it can also reduce shelf life so I thought I'd do some research and see if any of that was valid.
I found this article saying the risk was actually from botulism, which is super nasty piece of work: Is eating from a dented can safe? Canned food and botulism www.healwithfood.org/safety-concerns/eating-dented-can-safe.php This article quotes the U.S Department of Agriculture as saying:
"NEVER USE food from containers that show signs of botulism: leaking, bulging, rusting, or badly dented cans; cracked jars; jars with loose or bulging lids; canned food with a foul odor; or any container that spurts liquid when opening. DO NOT TASTE THIS FOOD! Even the tiniest amount of botulinum toxin can be deadly." "
The blog '4 ways to tell if a dented can of food is safe to eat' (http://modernsurvivalblog.com/survival-kitchen/4-ways-how-to-tell-if-a-dented-can-is-safe/) tells me that they should all be safe, except the one with the dent on the top near the seam is a bit 'iffy:'
"Push On The Top And Bottom Of The Can
If the top or bottom of the can moves or makes a popping sound, the can’s seal has probably been broken and air has made its way inside. Popped cans should be thrown out.
If the can does not make a noise or move when pressing on the top and bottom, it is probably safe to eat (the seal is still good).
Bulging And Bloated Can
If the can of food is bulging and bloated (unlike an ordinary dent), it is not safe. Cans will bulge and bloat when bacteria begins to produce gasses which push the can outward.
Rusted Can
Rust will weaken the integrity of the can and may allow air and bacteria to enter, particularly if the rust does not simply brush off.
Does The Can ‘Spray’ Out When You Open It?
When you open the can – when you puncture the lid with a can opener, it should not spray or explode (as in being under pressure). If it does spray, do not eat the food because it may be contaminated with bacteria. Safe dented cans will open the same as non dented cans."
The can safety factsheet (http://food-finders.org/Can_Safety_Fact_Sheet.pdf) adds another no-no to the list in the form of the dent being on the seam. It also has some handy pictures of what 'safe' and 'unsafe' dents look like.
I'm going to go through my cans again and see which ones I'm comfortable eating, but I'd also love your input - how do you decide which cans to keep and which to chuck?
I found this article saying the risk was actually from botulism, which is super nasty piece of work: Is eating from a dented can safe? Canned food and botulism www.healwithfood.org/safety-concerns/eating-dented-can-safe.php This article quotes the U.S Department of Agriculture as saying:
"NEVER USE food from containers that show signs of botulism: leaking, bulging, rusting, or badly dented cans; cracked jars; jars with loose or bulging lids; canned food with a foul odor; or any container that spurts liquid when opening. DO NOT TASTE THIS FOOD! Even the tiniest amount of botulinum toxin can be deadly." "
The blog '4 ways to tell if a dented can of food is safe to eat' (http://modernsurvivalblog.com/survival-kitchen/4-ways-how-to-tell-if-a-dented-can-is-safe/) tells me that they should all be safe, except the one with the dent on the top near the seam is a bit 'iffy:'
"Push On The Top And Bottom Of The Can
If the top or bottom of the can moves or makes a popping sound, the can’s seal has probably been broken and air has made its way inside. Popped cans should be thrown out.
If the can does not make a noise or move when pressing on the top and bottom, it is probably safe to eat (the seal is still good).
Bulging And Bloated Can
If the can of food is bulging and bloated (unlike an ordinary dent), it is not safe. Cans will bulge and bloat when bacteria begins to produce gasses which push the can outward.
Rusted Can
Rust will weaken the integrity of the can and may allow air and bacteria to enter, particularly if the rust does not simply brush off.
Does The Can ‘Spray’ Out When You Open It?
When you open the can – when you puncture the lid with a can opener, it should not spray or explode (as in being under pressure). If it does spray, do not eat the food because it may be contaminated with bacteria. Safe dented cans will open the same as non dented cans."
The can safety factsheet (http://food-finders.org/Can_Safety_Fact_Sheet.pdf) adds another no-no to the list in the form of the dent being on the seam. It also has some handy pictures of what 'safe' and 'unsafe' dents look like.
I'm going to go through my cans again and see which ones I'm comfortable eating, but I'd also love your input - how do you decide which cans to keep and which to chuck?