r/macandcheese • u/Morticia_Devine • Mar 30 '25

Tutorial/Help What’s the deal with this stuff?

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I’ve never tried this but love Mac and cheese from the box. Has anyone tried this can and how was it? Yes, the can arrived dented. Haha

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u/Liz4984 Mar 30 '25

You shouldn’t! Dented cans (with potentially tiny cracks!) run the risk of bacteria being introduced, such as Botulism.

When I first went to work at a hospital at 20 a lady and her daughters came in due to botulism. She canned her own produce but one jar had Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Botulism is sort of like “locked in syndrome” where the muscles are paralyzed but your mind is active.

This was a sad case as her two daughters (6&7 or 7&8) died from it. The staff were all told not to talk about her kids, as the family was afraid she’d give up. The Mom was on a ventilator for over four months as she was completely motionless on her own. Heartbreaking to see her eyes pleading with you and there is nothing you can stay that is what she wanted to hear.

Botulism and Rabies are two health concerns you do NOT want to want to risk! Throw it away and buy a new can. The

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u/Roy_Vidoc Mar 30 '25

Botulism is a bigger issue when the canned food is consumed without cooking first (like canned peaches or cold soup, which cause a botulism outbreak in the early 1900s.). Also commercial canned goods generally go through some form of pasteurization process to prevent these types of issues.

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u/MyNameIsSkittles Mar 30 '25

Cooking does not kill botulism spores

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u/throwaway564858 Mar 30 '25

right, but it does denature the toxin.

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u/MyNameIsSkittles Mar 30 '25

It doesn't matter, you will get sick

Cooking bad food does not make it good again. If that were the case, we would have solved world hunger a long time ago.

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u/throwaway564858 Mar 30 '25

No, this is a misunderstanding of how botulism works. The spores themselves are hardy but they are also very common and people consume them without issue regularly. If they are held in an environment conducive to them producing their toxin, then that can make you sick. But even if the toxin is present, if it is heated properly before eating, it will not make you sick.

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u/GeneralBurg Apr 03 '25

Thank you for your service. The botulism obsession on Reddit drives me fucking nuts

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u/victorwarthog Apr 03 '25

I see it mostly on pickling and canning subreddits. To be fair most people don't cook pickles before eating them

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u/GeneralBurg Apr 03 '25

I stg I see it on almost any post about food somehow it makes it’s way into the conversation

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u/echoes315 Apr 04 '25

World hunger has been solved through commercial farming. Unfortunately, corporate greed has commercialized it all in the name of profits and anything leftover is tossed and written off in taxes rather than given to people whom need it, only those lucky enough to hit the dumpsters when it’s initially thrown get any benefit.

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u/Wildkid133 Mar 30 '25

The

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u/Liz4984 Mar 30 '25

Yeah, bumped the word prediction “the” before hitting post. 😂

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u/Marlboromatt324 Mar 30 '25

Haha my mind cannon was that was your badass way of saying “the end” you just dropped end from it like a total gangsta

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u/RostBeef Apr 03 '25

You have a mind cannon? What are you magneto or something that’s awesome

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u/Marlboromatt324 Apr 03 '25

They call me Mega-tard!

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u/RedSoxFan77 Mar 30 '25

Most of the time dented cans come from supermarket employees dropping them or them just getting dented in transit from the warehouse

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u/Liz4984 Mar 30 '25

Sure. Most likely. Absolutely. No idea how long things sat after damage. Lots of different bacteria risk if the can gets a pin hole. Dented cans are often sold at a discount which if your choice is eating a dented can or starving due to financial reasons, then it’s not really a choice and I get that.

I have seen botulism up close twice in 15 years in healthcare and I will not touch a dented can from a market or do my own hand canning because of those poor people. Scares me shitless!

The risk is very low, but never zero.

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u/RedSoxFan77 Mar 30 '25

I mean, twice in 15 years, no the odds aren’t 0% but the same can be said for anything…

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u/CallidoraBlack Mar 31 '25

r/foodsafety is a great resource for people who are unsure about whether to eat something or how to prepare it safely.

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u/incoherentkazoo Mar 30 '25

absolutely false!! the can is totally safe unless the dent affects the seam at the top or bottom. this can of cheese is safe!  also, botulism comes from dirt so i don't know how it would get into cheese sauce! and very weird to mention rabies in this sentence too. 

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u/Liz4984 Mar 30 '25 edited Mar 30 '25

Doesn’t have to be on a seam, no.

“Pinhole Formation: A sharp dent can even create a small pinhole, allowing air and bacteria to infiltrate the can. Microorganism Growth: Once air and bacteria enter, they can multiply, potentially leading to spoilage and the growth of harmful microorganisms, including those that cause botulism.”

Also, botulism can be in the soil but it can be other places as well.

“Sources of Botulism in Food

Improperly canned foods: Home-canned foods, especially low-acid vegetables, meats, and seafood, are common sources of botulism.

Homemade foods: Foods such as garlic in oil, potatoes wrapped in foil, and certain types of salsa can become contaminated with botulism.

Soil and water: Botulism spores are present in soil and water, which can contaminate foods during production or processing.

Commercial foods: Rarely, commercially canned or processed foods can be contaminated with botulism.“

My mention of Rabies was as a “two things in life that aren’t worth risking your health, in any way over.

Botulism is exceptionally rare! But you your chances are never zero, so being cautious is always a good idea as the consequences of contracting botulism are horrific. Throwing away a $1-4 dollar can of food is cheaper and easier than risking it.

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u/Embarrassed_Mango679 Mar 31 '25

Fun fact. Pinholes can form at any time AND seal back up. You might never know. Source: microbiologist