BOT-003 food-safety health_risk ai_generated true

AI tells a user that a can with a dent on the side seam is safe to eat if the dent is small and the can is not bulging

ID: food-safety/canned-food-botulism-dent-seam

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
90%Fix Rate
90%Confidence
1Evidence
2023-11-20First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
USDA Canning Guide 2023 active — — —
FDA BAM Chapter 17: Clostridium botulinum active — — —
CDC Botulism Prevention 2022 active — — —

Root Cause

Dents on the side seam of a metal can can create microscopic openings that allow Clostridium botulinum spores to enter and produce deadly toxin; the can may not bulge until toxin has already formed, and bulging is a late sign of spoilage.

generic

中文

金属罐侧缝上的凹痕可能造成微小的开口，使肉毒杆菌孢子进入并产生致命毒素；在毒素形成之前，罐头可能不会膨胀，而膨胀是变质的晚期信号。

Official Documentation

https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/prevention.html

Workarounds

  1. 100% success Discard any can with a dent on the side seam, regardless of size. Do not taste the food. Wrap the can in a plastic bag and dispose in a sealed trash container. Example: `If dented on seam → do not open → discard immediately` 
    Discard any can with a dent on the side seam, regardless of size. Do not taste the food. Wrap the can in a plastic bag and dispose in a sealed trash container. Example: `If dented on seam → do not open → discard immediately`
  2. 95% success If the can has a dent on the top or bottom rim (not the side seam), it may be safe, but boil the contents for 10 minutes before consuming to denature any potential toxin 
    If the can has a dent on the top or bottom rim (not the side seam), it may be safe, but boil the contents for 10 minutes before consuming to denature any potential toxin

中文步骤

  1. Discard any can with a dent on the side seam, regardless of size. Do not taste the food. Wrap the can in a plastic bag and dispose in a sealed trash container. Example: `If dented on seam → do not open → discard immediately`
  2. If the can has a dent on the top or bottom rim (not the side seam), it may be safe, but boil the contents for 10 minutes before consuming to denature any potential toxin

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Boil the contents for 10 minutes to kill any botulinum toxin 99% fail

    Botulinum toxin is denatured at 185°F for 5 minutes, but spores survive; boiling does not destroy spores, and the food may still cause illness if spores germinate after opening

  2. Inspect the can for bulging before opening; if no bulge, it's safe 80% fail

    Toxin can be present without bulging; bulging is caused by gas from bacterial growth, which may not occur if only spores entered