1. Buyer Beware
Tainted vegetables in cans can be difficult to identify because you can't see through the container before you purchase the product. Also, the food is packed with so many juices and preservatives that sour food is often disguised. Read the labels before you buy canned foods. We tend to think that canned vegetables can last forever, but every can of food has a date on the can, and after that date you begin to risk contamination. When food stays in your pantry too long, it also can exceed its expiration date, so don't stockpile cans past their dates.
2. Consider the Source
Some tainted food has come from overseas lately, so it might be good time to consider the source of your canned vegetables. Imports are supposed to follow the same strict FDA guidelines in their processing and growing, but these restrictions are difficult to enforce until someone gets sick.
3. Inspect Your Food
Tainted food typically has a distinct odor that is somewhat sour. Don't take any chances when you open a can of vegetables that doesn't smell right or gives off any kind of unknown odor. Look at the ingredients as you pour them into a pan. The color of the vegetables should be natural and even. Tainted food will have a touch of darkness around the edges. The unhealthy germs can work their way through the can, so don't eat vegetables from a can if even one edge of a vegetable is discolored black, brown or white.
4. Don't Trust Dents
The biggest cause of tainted canned vegetables comes from the tainted source in the fields or factories where the food is stored and processed. Bad ingredients are mixed in with the vegetables and packed and shipped to stores. The next biggest source of tainted canned foods comes from the container. Aluminum and metal, when dented, can release toxins into the food it is holding. While not universal, the best prevention is to not even bother buying food in dented cans. When you pick up a can of vegetables from the shelf, take a moment to feel the outside thoroughly. Choose another can if you feel any indentations in the surface.
5. Listen to the News
You see more recalls these days than ever in the daily news. Pay attention to recalls because these food products are proven to be tainted with salmonella or other toxins. You must be on guard to keep yourself and your family safe from food poisoning, so watch for recalls and go through your pantry when one hits the news cycle.
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