Food safety test shows which canned-food warning signs matter most

One can "popped" and sprayed liquid even though the food inside still looked normal.

A can-opening experiment showed that relying only on sight and smell can be misleading when it comes to canned food.

An expired best-by date does not automatically make a product unsafe, but damage to the container itself can be a much more serious red flag.

What to know

In a TikTok video from Lauren (@totesma_gotes), several cans appeared ordinary at first, despite best-by dates from years earlier. The bigger issue she highlighted was the condition of the cans: those that were bulging, rusted, leaking, or dented near the rim hissed or sprayed when opened, even though the contents still "looked and smelled fine."

@totesma_gotes Let's look inside these bad cans of food! #food #cooking #family #fyp ♬ original sound - Lauren

"Cans should not hiss at you," Lauren said.

Throwing away every can as soon as its best-by date passes could mean discarding food that is still usable if the container is intact. But keeping cans that are visibly damaged can lead to spoiled meals, wasted ingredients, and illness.

One commenter captured the lesson simply: "This was really informative! Don't eat cans that fight back."

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More background

The examples suggested that the printed date mattered less than the can's condition. One older can looked normal after opening, while another with obvious swelling and pressure hissed right away, making spoilage the bigger concern.

Across the video, Lauren repeatedly pointed to dents on the seal or rim, bulging tops, rust, and leakage as warning signs. One can "popped" and sprayed liquid even though the food inside still looked normal, while another had no visible exterior damage but smelled off after it was opened.

Lauren also said acidity is another factor to keep in mind when checking pantry items, noting that foods such as tomatoes may spoil faster than something like pumpkin puree.

What can be done?

Checking cans before buying, storing, or opening them can help catch problems early. If a can is bulging, leaking, heavily rusted, or dented at the rim or seal, it is safer to throw it away than risk serving a meal that could make someone ill.

The video's message was not to trust appearance alone when food "looks fine." Lauren warned that "botulism has no smell. No smell, no taste."

"This is why it's so important to know what you're looking for with cans, because that will make you sicker than a dog," the creator added.

Where can I learn more?

Food safety concerns extend far beyond dented cans and hidden spoilage, including recalls and warnings involving food more broadly.

• Del Monte recalled nearly 200,000 cans of Target green beans over a critical production issue.

• The FDA expanded a frozen shrimp recall after radioactive cesium-137 contamination raised alarm.

• The FDA warned that an avocado water hack can invite dangerous bacterial growth.