Is It Safe To Eat Food From A Dented Can? - Mashed

When it comes to dented cans, you should proceed with caution — but generally, the content will still be safe to eat once opened.

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, food is safe to eat from a dented can as long as the dent is small. If it's a small dent and the can doesn't have any issues beyond that, you don't have much to worry about in terms of foodborne illness.

However, the USDA classifies a "deep dent" as "one that you can lay your finger into." If a can has a deep dent, you should throw it away. The USDA advises against consuming food from a deeply dented can because of the potential for the edges of those dents to be sharp and cut through the can's seam. Any outside air entering the can will allow bacteria to grow, which poses a risk of foodborne illness. Being aware of this possibility may allow you to avoid food poisoning by proper disposal of potentially contaminated products.

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