Can of Squeezing and Blowing Should Not Be Eaten, Neurosurgeon Reveals the Risks

JAKARTA - Canned food is practical and durable. However, cans that are bulging, cracked, severely rusted, or dented can be a sign of danger.

The Mirror, quoted on Friday, July 31, reported that the warning was delivered by Dr. Baibing Chen, a double-certified neurologist known on social media as Dr. Bing. He called food from damaged cans as one of the foods he would not consume.

In a video shared on TikTok and Instagram, Dr. Bing revealed three foods he avoids as a neurologist. One of them is damaged canned food.

According to Dr. Bing, small scratches on cans are not always a problem. However, cans that are bulging, cracked, or severely dented need to be watched out for because they can be a sign of botulinum contamination.

"If a can is bulging, cracked, or severely dented, it's a sign of botulinum contamination," says Dr. Bing.

He explained, the bacteria produces botulinum toxin. This poison is one of the most powerful toxins known.

"In small amounts alone, this poison can inhibit the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, which means your brain can't give the muscles the order to move," he said.

Acetylcholine is a chemical that helps nerves send signals to muscles. If these signals are disrupted, muscles can lose the ability to move.

In other words, botulinum toxin can interfere with communication between the brain and muscles. The impact can be paralysis, vision impairment, respiratory failure, and even death.

The risk is more difficult to recognize because botulinum toxin has no taste and smell. Contaminated food can still look, smell, and feel normal.

Dr. Bing also reminded, heating contaminated food is not necessarily enough to destroy the poison. So, the assumption that cooking always makes food safe cannot be used carelessly in this case.

According to Dr. Bing, exposure to botulinum toxin can cause paralysis, blurred vision, respiratory failure, and even death if the patient does not immediately receive antitoxin.

Antitoxins are substances used to neutralize toxins in the body.

Botulism is a rare disease, but it can be fatal. This disease is caused by toxins from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

The Food Standards Agency or FSA explained that food-borne botulism occurs when a person consumes food that already contains the toxin. This condition most often occurs because the food is not canned, preserved, or cooked properly during the production process.

The bacteria grow in low-oxygen environments. Unsealed or damaged cans can create conditions for the bacteria to thrive.

A can that is bubbling, for example, can be a sign that gas is building up inside due to bacterial activity.

The FSA said the risk of botulism from food purchased in the UK is considered low due to strict food hygiene standards and safety controls. However, the agency still asks consumers to avoid food from cans that are bulging, heavily rusted, or dented.

The FSA also advises that food should not be consumed if the packaging is questionable, the expiration date is unclear, or the product is not stored properly. Such foods should be disposed of safely.

In addition to spoiled canned food, Dr. Bing also avoids coral fish such as grouper and barracuda. According to him, these fish can carry neurotoxins that can cause tingling, dizziness, recurring nightmares, and chronic neuropathy.

Neurotoxins are poisons that can interfere with nerve function.

Dr. Bing also tries to avoid undercooked pork, especially from unsupervised sources. According to Bing, foods like that can sometimes trigger tapeworm infections, which are one of the main causes of acquired epilepsy in the world.