Getting it wrong when it comes to food preparation or storage can cause all sorts of nasty health issues, even death - but what about tinned food?
While around 4.1 million Australians suffer from food poisoning every year, according to the it is rare that this occurs from tinned food. However, it does and can occur. "Historically there have been cases of from cans that weren’t sealed properly," Lydia Buchtmann, spokesperson for the Food Safety Information Council, tells SBS.
While most of us know botulism due to its wrinkle-freezing properties, it is also a food borne disease, which can cause serious illness. “When botulism – Clostridium botulinum – grows in food, usually due to it being heated, or stored in conditions which allow the spores to germinate, it can cause food poisoning symptoms,” says Buchtmann.
How to store food from cans
“Once opened, canned foods are often highly perishable,” says Dr Ronald McCoy, spokesperson for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. “Opened canned food should be treated in the same manner as regular food, and should not be stored any longer than its uncanned version.”
According to Buchtmann, you shouldn't store an opened tin or can in the fridge once opened, as "the tin or iron can , giving it a metallic taste". This tends to occur in the tins of the more acidic tinned foods, such as fruit juices and tomatoes.
If you are a regular user of tinned foods, then it may be worth investing in proper storage to lengthen the life of your leftovers.
Nicole Dynan, spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia tells SBS: “If you still have food left in the tin, decant these into a airtight sealed container, (preferably with a glass bottom), in the juices, brine or sauce they are tinned or canned in, for maximum longevity. If possible, label the container with the date it was stored."
You can also use plastic lids to preserve the food, but, advises Buchtmann, remember to treat the food as perishable food once it is opened. "Store in the fridge and use it or freeze the contents within three days.”
The good news is that not all tinned foods need to be decanted. "Some dry foods or very sugary or fatty ones like jam or peanut butter can be stored in the open tin in a cool, dry, place," says Buchtmann. "Check what the label says about storage, but if it says to refrigerate do so. Some foods like jam which used to be kept unrefrigerated now have less sugar content, which is good for our health, but means it may need to be refrigerated, so once again check the label instructions."
