Whether you can food yourself or buy it canned, canned food has the potential to spoil. To avoid making yourself sick with canned foods that have spoiled, watch out for these signs of a spoiled product:
A bulging can or lid, or a broken seal
A can or lid that shows signs of corrosion
Food that has oozed or seeped under the jar’s lid
Gassiness, indicated by tiny bubbles moving upward in the jar (or bubbles visible when you open the can)
Food that looks mushy, moldy, or cloudy
Food that gives off an unpleasant or disagreeable odor when you open the jar
Spurting liquid from the can or jar when you open it
Botulism poisoning can be fatal. Because botulism spores have no odor and can’t be seen, you can’t always tell which jars are tainted. If you suspect that a jar or can of food is spoiled, never, never, never taste it. Dispose of the food responsibly.
