An NHS doctor has issued a warning urging people to never eat food from a dented can in certain circumstances. According to the expert, this damage could mean the food inside has been exposed to air and gone bad, potentially causing illness.
In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, Doctor Karan Rajan – who is best known online as Dr Raj, explained more. To illustrate his point he showed videos of dented cans of soup and other popular tinned foods.
“If you have dented cans, here’s what to look for to know if it’s safe to use,” he said. The first red flag is if the seam of the can is included in the dent.
This could mean a small hole has been created, compromising the contents of the can. It is best to peel off the label to check this.
Dr Raj said: “Look for dents on the side seam, these are usually covered by the label. So make sure you peel it off to inspect it carefully. And if you see this [he pointed to a dented seam] throw the can away because it’s likely compromised.”
However, if the dent doesn’t include the seam, the food is likely OK. “This is also a side dent, which covers a large surface area, but it doesn’t involve the side seam and it doesn’t cause a sharp pointy edge so it’s okay to use this,” he continued.
Dr Raj showed an example of a dented can of tomato soup. He said: “This ends up creating a sharp pointed edge suggesting there could be a small hole compromising the can – throw it away.”
For the latest health news, advice and symptoms to watch out for sign up to the Daily Express’ free health newsletter
He then showed a can dented along the top rim. “This dent involves the seam of the can this time at the top, also unsafe. If there’s a small dent which doesn’t encroach the seam, it’s safe to use.
“If a dent is actually deep enough so you can actually lay a finger onto it, that sounds safe.” But he added: “If a can looks like it’s been crushed, throw it away.
“And also bin it if it looks like it’s about to explode. Not every single damaged or dented can needs to be thrown away but if you find yourself with a dented can and you’re unsure – if in doubt throw it out.”