Food From Dented Cans: Is It Safe to Eat?
Robotically-sealed cans of food are normally dependable sources of nutrition and are almost always safe to eat. But what about cans with dents? Are dented cans still safe to consume, or do the dents indicate that something has gone wrong with the food inside?
What Causes Cans to Become Dented?
There are a few different ways that cans can become dented. Often, the dents are caused by careless handling, such as dropping or stacking the cans too high. In other cases, the dents are caused by mishandling during delivery or storage. The dents can lead to air and bacteria entering, which can cause the bacteria to grow and, in turn, result in the food being unsafe to eat.
Are Dented Cans Still Safe to Eat?
Generally speaking, dented cans that don’t have any swelling, leaking, or bulging are still safe to eat. However, there are a few things to consider before doing so:
- Check the can to ensure there is no swelling, bulging, or leaking, which would be an indication of the food being potentially unsafe to eat.
- Check the expiration date to make sure the food isn’t past its expiration date.
- If the dents are extremely large or distributed widely, the can should be discarded and not consumed.
If the canned food is swollen, leaking, or bulging, it should be thrown out immediately, as the food may be unsafe to eat.
What About Canned Food with Small Dents?
Canned food with small dents are usually still safe to consume. However, it’s important to inspect the can carefully and to make sure that there aren’t any signs of swelling, bulging, or leaking. If there are any signs of contamination or food spoilage, the food should be discarded immediately.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to dented cans, it’s important to inspect them carefully to make sure they are still safe to eat. Small dents may be okay to consume, but if there’s any sign of swelling, bulging, or leaking it’s best to err on the side of caution and discard the food.
