I just bought a can of mixed nuts from some generic manufacturer (i.e., not Planters)–the “Superior Nut Company.” It’s in one of those cardboard canisters with a metal base, foil-coated interior walls, metal rim, plastic cap, etc. I didn’t notice anything strange until I pulled off the plastic cap, revealing the peel-off foil seal, which was bulging from internal air pressure.
I peel it off, the air wooshes out, and now I have this ordinary can of mized nuts. Should I chuck it? Was air just trapped in the canning process, and the nuts are fine?
-Hungry for mixed nuts… but too afraid to eat them.
I thought botulism required anaerobic conditions (although I suppose if the canister was filled with nitrogen or something, maybe that would be good enough).
more likely is that the nuts have fermented or something.
I’d be suspicious, personally. But, in the very least, if air (not just N2) is in the can, then the chances are the nuts will not taste as fresh as they should. Yeah, chuck it. Afterall, remember what happened to that guy who “ate it anyway” in that kid’s song “Found a Peanut”, right? Take a lesson from him!
toadspittle, where do you live? If you live at a relatively high elevation, and the nuts were canned near sea level, that could explain it. When I lived in COlorado I noticed that potato chip bags, etc., shipped from elsewhere were often slightly inflated, presumably due to pressure differences.
Bacteria, even C. botulinum have a hard time growing on nuts. (Heh heh heh) It’s an outside possibility, but if there is contamination, it’s much more likely to be mold.
Keep the nuts and phone your local health department. It’s unlikely to be botulism, but if there’s been contamination during the packaging process, they need to know so they can recall the batch in question. They are equipped to determine whether there’s any cause for concern.
