February 18th, 2010 
TheSaltyChef 
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.
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It’s always a good idea to rotate canned goods and to date all homemade canned goods. We like to freeze as much as possible and keep several canning books on hand for reference on time tables. Good reminder.
I’d also recommend never opening a can of expired canned tomatoes, even if the jar looks fine on the outside. I once did that with a tin that had expired mere months ago, and as soon as the can opener penetrated the lid, the can proceeded to sputter its contents all over my kitchen. It was like a scene from a horror movie, and not a scene I’m looking into recreating…
Good idea! I just don’t take a chance with expired items, but that’s just me! Thanks for the comments and reading!!
Good reminder about the signs of spoiled food.