Canada recalls Briine Pacific Tide sparkling water in Alberta after 355ml cans begin bulging

The Government of Canada has recalled Briine brand Pacific Tide Sparkling Spring Water after identifying an issue with bulging cans. Authorities have advised consumers and retailers not to use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product.The recall notice, published on Thursday, says the product is being recalled because of non-harmful microbial contamination (quality or spoilage).The recalled product is Briine Pacific Tide Sparkling Spring Water sold in 355 ml cans with UPC 7 26529 99111 6. According to the notice, the affected products carry the best-before codes 01AL2028 and 02AL2028. The recall applies to products distributed in Alberta.The Government of Canada has asked consumers to check whether they have the affected product and not use it if it matches the details listed in the recall.The official notice identifies the issue as 'Food - Microbial contamination - Non harmful (quality or spoilage).' No additional products have been included in the recall notice, and no further details about the incident have been provided. The Government of Canada has also invited consumers to sign up for recall and safety alert notifications to receive updates on new and revised recalls.

Bulging cans are warning signs

Food safety experts say bulging food cans should be avoided at all costs. Darin Detwiler, chair of the National Environmental Health Association's food safety programme and author of Food Safety- Past, Present, and Predictions, told Huffington Post that checking food packaging is an important step in staying safe.He said people should look for signs of bloating before eating, just as they check a product's use-by date or smell food that has been stored for some time to see if it has gone bad.

Why food cans bulge

Jagdish Khubchandani, a public health professor at New Mexico State University who specialises in food safety, said bulging food packaging is usually a sign of bacterial growth. He explained that bacteria can produce carbon dioxide gas, and as the gas builds up inside the package, it causes the container to swell.However, Khubchandani said bacterial growth is not the only possible reason for bulging packaging.

Changes in air pressure at high altitudes or after air travel can also make some packages expand.The US Department of Agriculture says frozen cans may also bulge but can still be safe to use if the seams are intact and the can is not rusted. Darin Detwiler said bags of spinach and other leafy greens can also puff up because of the plants' natural respiration process, which is not caused by bacteria.

What happens if you consume from bulged can?

Jagdish Khubchandani said the effects of eating food from bulging packaging can vary from no symptoms to serious illness.

Some people may notice only an unpleasant taste, while others could develop food poisoning.The US Department of Agriculture says many people who eat spoiled food do not become ill because the digestive system can help remove harmful germs. However, Khubchandani warned that some people may experience severe vomiting and diarrhoea.He added that, in rare cases, contaminated food can cause serious foodborne illnesses that may lead to complications affecting the kidneys, heart and nervous system. Because it is impossible to know the exact risk by looking at a swollen package, experts advise avoiding such products.Khubchandani further said consuming food from bloated packaging is not worth the risk, while food safety expert Darin Detwiler offered a simple rule, “If in doubt, throw it out.”