Packaging is meant to keep our food fresh and safe, but sometimes the plastic wrap on a chicken package is bulging and filled with air, or a can of beans is bloated in a way that doesn’t look quite right. It may be tempting to eat the food in a bloated package, but there are reasons to think twice about it.
According to food safety experts, some bulges are harmless, but others can cause serious illness. It’s important to know the difference and the risks.
Accordingly Darin DetwilerChairman of the National Environmental Health Association’s Food Safety Program and author of “Food safety: past, present and forecasts“Checking food packaging is an important step in staying healthy. Everyone should look at the packaging before eating to make sure it is not bloating, similar to looking at the expiration date on a food item or smelling a food item that has been sitting out to make sure it does not have a bad odor.
What causes bloated and overfilled food packaging?
If a package bulges, this is almost always an indication Bacterial growth, saidJagdish KhubchandaniProfessor of public health at New Mexico State University, specializing in food safety. The bacteria produce a gas, carbon dioxide. As the gas content in the package increases, the package expands, causing a dent, he explained.
In rarer cases, bloat can be caused by other factors. Elevation changes can cause pressure changes inside packages — and this can lead to bulging, Khubchandani said. If you notice a package bulging after a flight, or if you live in a high-altitude area like Denver, altitude could be the culprit. Cans that were frozen will also likely swell, but are safe to use as long as the seams remain intact and the can is not rusted, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Bags of spinach and other leafy greens can swell “due to the leafy greens’ natural respiration process,” which has nothing to do with bacteria, Detwiler said.
However, It is almost impossible to find out why a package is full just by looking at it, explains Rolando Gonzaleza scientist specializing in food safety who serves as Chief Scientific Officer of the Acheson Group. He therefore recommends always assuming that bacterial growth is the cause and acting accordingly.
What happens when you eat food from bloated packaging?
If you eat food that was packed in a bulging package, “The effects can range from no problems to a bad taste in the mouth to serious health problems,” said Khubchandani.
The United States Department of Agriculture says that most people who eat spoiled food do not get sick. Khubchandani explains that “our stomach and intestines provide good protection so we can digest the germs, or our body helps to eliminate them by Vomiting or defecating to expel germs.”
However, not everyone who eats food from overfilled packaging gets off so lightly. Peoplecan lead to severe diarrhea and vomiting, he said. Even worse, food from over-filled packaging turns into full-blown Episodes of foodborne illnessThis can lead to kidney failure, cardiovascular disorders, paralysis and death, he stressed.
Khubchandani warns against putting your health at risk, no matter how much you crave what’s inside a bloated package. Centers for Disease Control It is estimated that over 100,000 people are hospitalized each year due to foodborne illnesses. Over 3,000 of them die.
While you may not mind eating questionable food, “it’s a matter of chance,” Khubchandani said, and it’s important to know the risks. Detwiler agrees, adding, “When in doubt, throw it out.”
Special considerations
Some foods require special attention due to their packaging.
In some cases, that’s because a bulging bag is rarely a sign of a serious problem. Chip bags “are intentionally designed to bulge because they’re filled with air,” Khubchandani said. Additionally, chips have “less chance of microbial growth and gas formation” than other foods, so you’re less likely to get sick from eating chips from a bulging bag.
Conversely, it is “imperative to inspect all canned goods for signs of bulging, leaks or rust, as these can be entry points or signs of bacterial growth and toxin production,” which can be fatal, Detwiler said. Bulging in canned goods “is a clear warning sign” that botulinum may be present, he explained.
Botulism “is particularly worrying because it can lead to potentially fatal disease.” He explains that Symptoms of botulism These include “double vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness and respiratory arrest.”
While any bloated package can indicate botulism, “the risk is especially pronounced with low-acid foods stored in oxygen-free environments, such as canned goods,” he explained. Therefore, Detwiler recommends checking canned goods especially carefully. “The inspection should not be superficial, but thorough, ensuring the integrity of the can from top to bottom and side to side,” he said. If a can is even slightly bloated, it should be discarded, Detwiler said.
