A medical expert has issued a stark health warning about the dangers of consuming food from damaged tins. Occasionally you’ll spot tins on supermarket and shop shelves that may have been damaged during transport or simply dropped and returned to their place.
However, Dr Ashley Ennedy, who specialises in environmental medicine, strongly advises against buying them, saying doing so could put your health at serious risk. “Dented cans might look harmless, but they can make you seriously sick,” she explained in a TikTok video. Dr Ennedy went on to reveal how you could become “paralysed” simply from eating the contents of a damaged tin.
“When a can is dented – especially near the seams – it can break the airtight seal allowing clostridium botulinum to grow,” she explained.
This bacteria can produce toxins that target the nervous system. “When this bacteria grows, it can produce something called botulinum toxin,” Dr Ennedy continued. “Even a tiny amount of this toxin can cause botulism, which is a rare but potentially fatal type of food poisoning that affects your nerves.”
Symptoms of botulism
The doctor then highlighted the symptoms the toxin can potentially cause, which include:
- Drooping eyelids
- Double or blurred vision
- A dry mouth
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Weakness or paralysis of arms and legs
- Nausea and vomiting
“The scary part is you really can’t see it… you can’t smell it and you can’t taste it,” Dr Ennedy continued. “So your food is going to look and taste completely normal and you will have no idea.” And she concluded her clip: “So if the can is bulging or dented or leaking at the lid or seams, just toss it – it is really not worth the risk.”
One shocked TikTok user responded: “Crazy how those cans are always the ones donated [to food banks].” Dr Ennedy retorted: “So true. Most donation centres do check for dents or bulging cans before giving them out, but it’s always good to double-check what you donate.”
Another person said: “It makes me so mad how many dented cans are on the shelves. I report it every time.” To which the doctor commended: “You’re totally right to report dented cans! Thanks for looking out for others!”
A third TikTok user asked: “Do restaurants have regulations about this? I can control at home, but wonder when I eat out.”
She asserted in reply: “Yes! Thankfully restaurants are not allowed to use swollen, bulging, or severely dented cans. They’re considered unsafe because of botulism risk, and health inspectors check for this. So if a can looks damaged, they have to toss it.”
Regarding botulism, the NHS concurs with the doctor’s advice, stating online: “As a result of high standards of food hygiene in the UK, the chances of getting food-borne botulism from food bought in this country are low. There’s a slightly higher risk if you produce your own food, particularly if this involves canning. But following food hygiene procedures and canning recommendations will reduce any risk.”
The NHS emphasises: “Do not eat food from bulging or damaged cans, and avoid eating foul-smelling preserved foods, foods stored at the incorrect temperature and out-of-date foods.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
