What Happens to Canned Food if Left in a Hot Car?

The answer to the question, ‘what happens to canned food if left in a hot car?’ is simple: it can become unsafe to eat. Cans are made of metal and will heat up quickly if left in a hot car. The temperature inside the can can get so high that the food inside will spoil and bacteria will start to grow.

When temperatures are high, bacteria can double their population size within 20 minutes. This means that, if left in a hot car, canned food could become contaminated with harmful bacteria like salmonella or E. coli in a very short time. If consumed, these bacteria can cause serious health issues such as food poisoning or diarrhea.

What Should You Do?
It is best to avoid leaving canned foods in a hot car for extended periods of time as it could make them unsafe to eat. If you do need to transport cans of food in your vehicle, it is important to make sure they stay cool by keeping them in an insulated bag or cooler with ice packs. This will keep the cans from getting too hot and limit the growth of bacteria.

It is also important to remember that some canned foods have expiration dates on them and should be discarded after this date has passed regardless of whether or not they have been left in a hot car.

Conclusion:
Canned food should not be left in a hot car for extended periods of time as it can cause the growth of harmful bacteria which could lead to food poisoning or other health issues if consumed. It is important to keep cans cool by storing them in an insulated bag with ice packs when transporting them in your vehicle, and to discard any cans with expired expiration dates regardless of their temperature when opened.