Rancid Cooking Oils That Turn Into Health Hazards
Those bottles of vegetable, canola, and olive oil sitting in your pantry might seem harmless after their expiration dates, but oxidative rancidity causes the breakdown of unsaturated fats in oil, while regularly using rancid oil can lead to the buildup of harmful compounds like free radicals, which may negatively impact health over time. Using any rancid oil can lead to serious health hazards and contains carcinogenic free radicals.
You can spot spoiled oil by checking for telltale signs. Rancid oil often emits a strong, unpleasant odor, and if your oil smells off or foul, it’s a sign that you may have expired oil. A vegetable oil has probably gone bad when it has unpleasant odors, an off-putting taste, a darker more unnatural color, or a slimy and thick texture, with sour, musty, or rancid odor indicating it’s likely spoiled.
Deep-Dented Canned Goods That Compromise Safety
Cans and jars should be free of dents, cracks or bulging lids, which can pose a risk of serious food poisoning. While small dents might be acceptable, discard deeply dented cans, where a deep dent is one that you can lay your finger into.
According to the USDA, if the dent is relatively small and there is no other damage to the can, it’s perfectly fine to eat the food inside, but if the dent is deep enough for you to lay a finger in it, it’s best to trash the can entirely, as such dents usually have sharp points that can compromise the integrity of the metal container. Dented cans can be dangerous because the bacteria Clostridium botulinum thrives in low-oxygen environments like the insides of cans, and as this bacteria grows it produces a dangerous neurotoxin that causes botulism when consumed.
Bulging Canned Products With Bacterial Growth
A bulging lid or leaking can is a sign of spoilage, and never buy any can of food that looks swollen or has a bulge in it, as this may mean that dangerous bacteria are growing inside.
Usually, compromised cans result in the can rusting or swelling as the food reacts with the steel, tin or aluminum, and bacteria can also grow and release gasses that make the can bulge. Never use food from containers showing possible botulism warnings including leaking, bulging, or badly dented cans. Frozen cans could swell because the food inside expanded when frozen, however cans can be swollen because of contamination with Clostridium botulinum or spoilage-causing organisms, so do not use any swollen cans.
Rusted Metal Containers That Allow Contamination
Rust isn’t just unsightly on canned goods – it’s actually a safety hazard. First, cans can rust over time, and shipping accidents where cans fall and dent or are crushed also cause container problems. If a can is bulging, leaky, or rusted, dispose of it immediately.
Small amounts of surface rust you can wipe away might be tolerable, but while a little bit of corrosion that you can wipe off with your hands is okay, you’ll want to throw away anything that looks rusted beyond recognition. Rust compromises the protective barrier between the metal and your food, potentially allowing harmful bacteria to enter.
Leaking Food Containers With Broken Seals
Any tears, punctures, cuts, holes, or leakage are major red flags as these usually indicate that the sterilized contents have been exposed to outside elements. Never open suspect cans (leaking, bulging, dented, etc.) to discard them; if spoilage bacteria or botulism is present you don’t want to contaminate your kitchen or take the risk of being exposed.
The hermetic seal is what keeps canned goods safe for years. The problem with cans that are in less-than-perfect condition is that the hermetic seal and protective lining inside might be broken, and if the outside of the can is dented, there’s a good chance the interior lining is compromised as well. Once that seal is broken, bacteria can enter and multiply rapidly.
High-Sodium Processed Foods Beyond Healthy Limits
The American Heart Association (AHA) advises a daily sodium intake of no more than 2,300 mg, with most adults at an ideal goal of 1,500, and reducing consumption can significantly enhance blood pressure and heart health, given that Americans consume more than 3,400 mg of sodium per day on average.
Cleaning sodium-loaded foods from your pantry is one good way to bring down your own daily intake. Many canned soups, processed meats, and packaged snacks contain astronomical amounts of sodium that can contribute to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Reading labels becomes crucial when you’re trying to maintain heart health, and some products contain nearly a full day’s worth of sodium in a single serving.
Trans Fat-Containing Snacks and Processed Foods
Many pantry foods contain unhealthy trans fats that can pose a number of risks to your health, with nutritionist Catherine Gervacio recommending getting rid of foods including certain crackers, cookies, and microwave popcorn, as trans fat is known to cause different health problems like insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.
The American Heart Association (AHA) advises minimizing the consumption of foods that contain trans fat. Even small amounts can accumulate over time and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. While many manufacturers have reduced trans fats in their products, some processed foods may still contain them, especially in certain packaged or older stock.
Recalled Pet Food Products With Salmonella Risk
Dr. Cameron Heinz, MD, from Mobility Nest notes that Mid America Pet Food issued a recall of several pet food products due to potential Salmonella contamination, with the affected items marked with a specific best-by date.
Pet food recalls happen more frequently than many people realize, and the contamination can affect not just your pets but also humans who handle the food. If you’re someone who stocks up on food for your furry friends in bulk, this is an important one to look out for and dispose of immediately. Salmonella contamination in pet food can spread throughout your home if not handled properly.
Contaminated Flour Products From Recent Outbreaks
Dr. Heinz notes that Gold Medal brand flour was linked to a Salmonella Infantis outbreak, and consumers who missed the recall may still have potentially contaminated products at home. The affected items included two-, five-, and ten-pound bags of Bleached and Unbleached All Purpose Flour with “Better if Used By” dates of March 27 and March 28, 2024.
Flour contamination is particularly dangerous because many people taste raw cookie dough or cake batter without realizing the risks. The bacteria can survive in dry environments for months, making flour a surprising source of foodborne illness. Even baking doesn’t always eliminate all risks if the flour has been heavily contaminated.
High-Sugar Processed Snacks Contributing to Health Issues
If you have a sweet tooth, you may frequently throw unhealthy sugary snacks like candies, chocolates, and pastries into your shopping cart, but these are high in added sugars which can contribute to weight gain and metabolic problems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) established a new rule back in 2015 and recommended that both children and adults limit their sugar consumption. Regular consumption of high-sugar processed foods can lead to insulin resistance, obesity, tooth decay, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. While these foods aren’t technically “expired,” their impact on long-term health makes them worth removing from your pantry for good.
Expired Cooking Oil That Develops Harmful Compounds
In addition to the chronic disease risks, rancid oils can trigger digestive system distress, and these harmful substances can also drain vitamins B and E from your body, another effect of consuming rancid food.
Olive oil goes rancid after 2-3 years, or 18–24 months if it’s extra virgin olive oil, and the best way to tell whether your olive oil has gone rancid is by tasting it, as bad olive oil will taste bitter, sour, or stale. Rancid oil can negatively affect the flavour of your dishes and you also risk ingesting free radicals, which are harmful compounds linked to cell damage.
Deeply Damaged Canned Goods Near Seams
An important factor to consider is where that dent is placed, as cans have seams that are located either on the sides, at the top near the lid, or even at the very bottom end of the container, and this is where the metal joins together into an airtight seal, so any nicks or craters here can compromise the can’s anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment.
Deep dents often have sharp points, and a sharp dent on either the top or side seam can damage the seam and allow bacteria to enter the can, so discard any can with a deep dent on any seam. These seam areas are the most vulnerable parts of any canned good, and even minor damage here can create pathways for dangerous bacteria like Clostridium botulinum to contaminate the food inside.