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Bulging or swelling: This can indicate gas production from bacteria.
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Leaking liquid or severe rust: These compromise the airtight seal.
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Deep dents, especially along seams or edges: Dents can break the internal lining.
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Foul smell, mold, or strange appearance after opening
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Sudden spurting liquid when opened
If something seems off, trust your instincts. Never taste questionable canned food—discard it immediately.
The Special Case of Home-Canned Foods
Commercially canned foods are produced under strict safety standards. Home-canned foods, however, require extra caution.
If a home-canned jar is bulging, leaking, cloudy, or smells unusual, it should not be consumed. When in doubt, it’s safer to discard home-canned goods than to risk foodborne illness.
Why So Much Perfectly Good Food Gets Wasted
Food waste is a massive global problem, and misunderstood expiration dates play a huge role. Millions of tons of edible food are thrown away each year simply because people assume “expired” means “dangerous.”
This waste has real consequences:
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