Bad can?

[Hypomean]

Hey guys
So I'm in a bit of anxiety.
I made some food that required refried beans I picked up a big can opened it up quickly heated it up and served them. I did notice a weird smell to them. But my hubs said it was a new brand we were using, and that maybe that's just how these smell. And we started eating and it had a weird after taste I went to check the can and it was dented on the side. There was no hard edges to it just like a teaspoon size indentation.
I got two from the same brand and the other can did not have such a strong smell, I did not get to try it since I was already freaking out about it. The colors were different but I did only get tocook the one we ate.
I have my 9 and 7 year olds with a cold, my 7 year old also has two tooth infections. My 4 year old only had a lil bit, and he's dealing with a rash that we don't know from what. I'm freaking out that with their low immune system and if this can were to be contaminated with botulism that they'll get really bad.
Should I be freaking out?

[GlassPinata]

Well, that sounds scary.
But remember that botulism is extremely rare (approximately 110 cases per year in the US, a nation of 325 million people).
It is primarily linked to home-canned foods, rather than commercially canned ones.
And apparently the things to look out for with commercial canned goods are leaking cans and/or bulging cans. Dented cans are apparently okay, as long as the can is intact.
That said, refried beans often smell rather weird to me, and canned ones doubly so.
And there is a big variation between different brands- I mean, open a can of Rosarita refried beans and a can of Old El Paso ones, and you'lll see what i mean. Different color, different texture, different smell.
I'm sure you and your family will be okay.

Best wishes.

[Hypomean]

Well, that sounds scary.
But remember that botulism is extremely rare (approximately 110 cases per year in the US, a nation of 325 million people).
It is primarily linked to home-canned foods, rather than commercially canned ones.
And apparently the things to look out for with commercial canned goods are leaking cans and/or bulging cans. Dented cans are apparently okay, as long as the can is intact.
That said, refried beans often smell rather weird to me, and canned ones doubly so.
And there is a big variation between different brands- I mean, open a can of Rosarita refried beans and a can of Old El Paso ones, and you'lll see what i mean. Different color, different texture, different smell.
I'm sure you and your family will be okay.

Best wishes.

Thank you Glasspinata for the info

My fear is that dent causing the can to it not being properly. It was a pull tab type of can.

Ugh My stomach hurts. And it gives me worse thoughts about the botulism fear.

Yeah I'm hoping it's just the different brand thing is the cause of the different taste and smell.

[Hypomean]

Woke up to a high heart rate right now
I'm freaking out that maybe we do have botulism

[Ben1989]

Why not err on the side of caution and get yourself checked out? I'm sure you're fine but given the severity of botulism you can be excused for being cautious. Go get yourself checked out by a doctor instead of being on an anxiety website.

[Hypomean]

Why not err on the side of caution and get yourself checked out? I'm sure you're fine but given the severity of botulism you can be excused for being cautious. Go get yourself checked out by a doctor instead of being on an anxiety website.

I have no insurance

[ErinKC]

Cooking kills botulism. Did they boil? The chances are very slim you got it even if you didn't boil them. Botulism contamination from commercially canned goods would be a huge scandal. They'd be recalling their products, etc... It's very rare today commercially.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Why not err on the side of caution and get yourself checked out? I'm sure you're fine but given the severity of botulism you can be excused for being cautious. Go get yourself checked out by a doctor instead of being on an anxiety website.

That would be giving into to the HA. The odds of this fear coming to fruition are long.

[snowghost57]

Hey guys
So I'm in a bit of anxiety.
I made some food that required refried beans I picked up a big can opened it up quickly heated it up and served them. I did notice a weird smell to them. But my hubs said it was a new brand we were using, and that maybe that's just how these smell. And we started eating and it had a weird after taste I went to check the can and it was dented on the side. There was no hard edges to it just like a teaspoon size indentation.
I got two from the same brand and the other can did not have such a strong smell, I did not get to try it since I was already freaking out about it. The colors were different but I did only get tocook the one we ate.
I have my 9 and 7 year olds with a cold, my 7 year old also has two tooth infections. My 4 year old only had a lil bit, and he's dealing with a rash that we don't know from what. I'm freaking out that with their low immune system and if this can were to be contaminated with botulism that they'll get really bad.
Should I be freaking out?

You state that you have no insurance, I notice that you are in the United States, google your local hospital for financial aid on their website for low cost or free health care. Are the children eligible for Medicaid? Two have colds, one has a rash, and one has two teeth that are infected? Have you contacted your local Social Service Office for assistance? As for the botulism the other poster is correct, cooking will kill it. The difference in color and smell vary from brand to brand.

[GlassPinata]

I have no insurance

I hear you there. :( These UK folk don't understand.

[MyNameIsTerry]

I hear you there. :( These UK folk don't understand.

I think we may in some respects, our NHS turn down treatments...it's not all perfect over here, despite what world media may say. :winks:

Our battles just differ. But we do at least have the option of basic healthcare for all. Immigrants have to pay though, even if they have to be treated or their countries may pay. It's not all "the NHS does everything free" in the UK.

When you get into dental care though, that's a very different issue. If you are unable to pay, you can get state aid but beyond that the dental industry operates as a chargeable industry and has done for decades. NHS patients get subsidised but that was scaled back many years ago and loads of NHS "health" patients are private when it comes to dental.

[Ben1989]

I hear you there. :( These UK folk don't understand.

True. I do often forget that.

However, what Terry said is correct. GPs do have a budget in mind when it comes to diagnosing. I really had to push to get an MRI when I was having serious dizzy spells. One doctor even just said, 'oh you just have vertigo'. Turned out to be anxiety (disclaimer: this was before I even realised I had anxiety).

Overall, however, I must say that we are very lucky. I severely cut my hand once (the word is probably more 'sliced wide open'). I went to A&E, had an inspection, a complete cleaned out, and had a precautionary X-ray all in the space of two hours. No questions asked. No bill to pay.

I digress sorry.

From reading about botulism, it sounds incredibly rare. With food like beans they all carry strange smells. I'm sure you're all fine

[Capercrohnj]

I hear you there. :( These UK folk don't understand.

Sure here in Canada we don't pay BUT we have to wait up to a year to get in with a specialist, 3-6 months for scans, etc. I've been waiting over 5 months for major surgery. I see people here talking about having multiple scams and different doctors examining them and that would never happen here.

[Hypomean]

You state that you have no insurance, I notice that you are in the United States, google your local hospital for financial aid on their website for low cost or free health care. Are the children eligible for Medicaid? Two have colds, one has a rash, and one has two teeth that are infected? Have you contacted your local Social Service Office for assistance? As for the botulism the other poster is correct, cooking will kill it. The difference in color and smell vary from brand to brand.

I applied back in December and we have yet to hear from them I call in whenever I can to see where we stand of all of us (6) only my son with the infections got his coverage today and that's only because I went and asked for temporary card so he can go through with the minor surgery for the infected teeth.
My lil one with the rash turned out to be heat rash he's all better now. :)

---------- Post added at 17:10 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------


Cooking kills botulism. Did they boil? The chances are very slim you got it even if you didn't boil them. Botulism contamination from commercially canned goods would be a huge scandal. They'd be recalling their products, etc... It's very rare today commercially.

I read it's 10 minutes of cooking that you need to kill it. I just barely saw it come to a bubbly point and turned off the burner. That's were I kind of freak out I should of left it longer.

---------- Post added at 17:18 ---------- Previous post was at 17:10 ----------


Sure here in Canada we don't pay BUT we have to wait up to a year to get in with a specialist, 3-6 months for scans, etc. I've been waiting over 5 months for major surgery. I see people here talking about having multiple scams and different doctors examining them and that would never happen here.

It's the same here. And that could even be with your paid private insurance :( we were paying up to 1000$+ for our own insurance and we were getting put on wait lists and we had to waste triple on copays just so we can get a referral to see a specialist.
The nurse for my son even told us that for his treatment he'll need to be sedated and told us it's 1000 just for that and that we need it to be an upfront payment?!
I mean it's too too much.
For something we really need I mean it's becoming survival of the richest.