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Q:
We had a chest of store-bought canned meat that we forgot about in our unconditioned/uninsulated metal roof shop during the recent 115º F weather. When I puncture a can to open it still breathes in, not out. No cans are swollen. Is it safe to eat?
A:
Thank you for your question. I hope you are managing to stay cool during this hot weather!
Temperatures over 100º F are harmful to canned foods, and the risk of spoilage jumps sharply as storage temperatures rise. The thermophilic, or heating-triggered, pathogens vary from product to product and are unpredictable.
I would recommend caution with any canned foods that have been exposed to high heat. The longer and higher the heat was will increase the likelihood of spoilage. Not all harmful pathogens, including botulism, give off gas to create pressure inside a can or jar so that is not always a reliable sign of spoilage.
These cans could be a food safety risk.
This piece is part of the collectionResources for managing in heat waves
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