Would you like to check the stored cans?

Cans that can be stored for a long time and become a strong ally in the event of a disaster. There are many people who are stockpiling. But you may want to check again to make sure that you are not surprised. (Takahiko Koyanagi, Reporter of Saga Broadcasting Station / Takeshi Memida, Hiromi Akimoto, Network Press)

Canned peaches ...

The other day, Twitter had a post like this. There were reactions on the net such as "I didn't know that the cans exploded. I'm scared." And "Let's check the stored cans." Apart from this post, I was able to talk to a woman who actually experienced a canned rupture.

Never noticed

One day last November, I noticed that the kitchen basket was dirty, and when I checked the cans inside, the opening ruptured and the contents popped out. Moreover, the contents that should have been yellow were black. The woman is calling for promptly disposal of expired cans. I looked back on those days.

"Since it didn't sound or smell, I didn't even notice that the cans had burst."

Canned goods are within their expiration date

There was also a co-op that disclosed the ruptured cans online. This is Kobe In response to an inquiry about the rupture of cans, he introduced the mechanism of the rupture and explained that it was a rare phenomenon when stored for a long time. Since this phenomenon does not occur during the expiration date, we are calling for eating within the expiration date.

How many canned ruptures?

Bursting of cans. The Consumer Affairs Agency was consulted. The number of consultations totaled more than 20 in the nine years from 2011 to last year. Although not very large, the contents of the cans ranged from apricots, mandarins, tomatoes, bread, and even dog food.

In addition, not only was the case where the stored cans were ruptured if noticed, but also the case where the contents splattered immediately after opening the cans.

In addition, a similar consultation was received at the National Consumer Affairs Center, and there was also a consultation saying that the canned stock that had been purchased in preparation for a disaster had exploded.

Does canned food really burst?

I asked Mr. Yoshikazu Dobashi, Managing Director of the Japan Canned Bottled Retort Food Association. When asked, "Does cans explode?", He said, "I will explode.

What is the mechanism of the rupture?

Then, I asked in detail about the mechanism of how to burst. Ruptures are roughly divided into two types.

(1) Meat and fish rot, microbes propagate, release gas, swell and burst.
(2) The iron contained in the can and the acid contained in the fruit cause a chemical reaction, generating hydrogen gas and exploding.

Mr. Dobashi explains that most of the cases are (2).

"The higher the temperature (the longer it is stored), the more likely the chemical reaction will take place."

In other words, cans stored in hot places beyond their expiration dates will rarely burst.

What should I do when it expands?

But what if the expiration date has passed and the cans are swelling and are about to burst?

Mr. Dobashi "Basically, open and discard the contents. People with weak stomachs due to the melting of metal may break the stomach, so it is better not to eat it."

"When processing, dig a hole in a safe place, for example, a garden, put a can in there, cover it with a rag or towel from above, open a hole in the can with a drill, etc. Discard the contents when gas escapes. Please be careful as the contents will splatter if you empty it. ''

To remember the expiration date

However, you don't really know the shelf life of the cans you keep. More specifically, isn't that the same for food stockpiled for disasters?

A person at the Japan Disaster Management Organization, an organization that trains disaster prevention workers who play a central role in disaster prevention activities in the region, also says:

"There are many types of food that can be stored for a long time, such as drinking water and canned foods that were stored as a precautionary measure, but expired when they were noticed."

So how do you keep it from expiring? This person advised me to check it four times a year in each season, and at least twice a year if it was tough. After all, it seems to have to check regularly.

Furthermore, food and water are not stored in the trunk of the car (due to high temperatures in the summer). Stocks are stored in several places (stored in one place, such as a warehouse, when the warehouse is damaged). It is important that things become unusable.

Based on these facts, the person in charge of the Japan Disaster Prevention Agency said:

"It's important to know what kind of disaster is at stake in your town and be prepared to live for at least a week if all your lifelines go down."

In order to make canned food and other foodstuffs a strong ally in the event of a disaster, we will always try to confirm the deadline.