Which Foodborne Illness Is Most Often Caused by Incorrectly Canned Food?

Foodborne illnesses are a big public health concern. Each year, thousands of Americans become ill due to food contamination, resulting in costly medical bills, lost wages and even deaths.

One of the most common ways that food can become contaminated is through the improper canning of food. Canned foods are a popular and convenient way to store and preserve food, but they can also be a source of dangerous foodborne illnesses if not done correctly.

The most commonly reported foodborne illness caused by incorrectly canned food is botulism. Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria that can be found in improperly canned or preserved foods.

Botulism poisoning can cause paralysis and even death if not treated promptly. Symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, muscle weakness, dry mouth and abdominal cramping.

The risk of botulism from canned foods can be minimized by following safe home-canning practices such as using only approved recipes from reliable sources like the USDA or Cooperative Extension Service; using pressure cookers for home-canned foods; avoiding over-processing canned foods; and refrigerating all home-canned foods immediately after opening.

Other types of foodborne illnesses that may be caused by incorrectly canned foods include listeriosis, salmonellosis and Clostridium perfringens infection. Listeriosis is an illness caused by the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria found in soil and water that can contaminate certain types of raw fruits and vegetables such as melons or sprouts.

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria that can be found in raw meats such as poultry or eggs. Clostridium perfringens infection is an illness caused by Clostridium perfringens bacteria that can contaminate improperly cooked meats, poultry or fish.

Conclusion:

Botulism is the most often reported foodborne illness caused by incorrectly canned food due to its highly toxic nature when improperly stored or processed. To reduce the risk of contracting botulism from canned foods it’s important to follow safe home-canning practices such as using only approved recipes from reliable sources like the USDA or Cooperative Extension Service; using pressure cookers for home-canned foods; avoiding over-processing canned foods; and refrigerating all home-canned foods immediately after opening.