4 Reasons to Clean a Can Lid Before Opening It

The day is an oven. The heat is unbearable. So, you open a can of ice-cold soda and pour the entire contents into a glass to cool off. Thinking about it can seem like a real “vision of paradise”. However, it is important to bear in mind that if you forget to clean the lid of the can, you could be drinking insect or animal remains without realizing it. And pleasure can have serious consequences.

Food and beverage cans go a long way before they reach your home. They are kept in large warehouses and transported in trucks, where they run the risk of being contaminated by small animals or even by the dirt of the environment in which they are found.

O awesome.club researched some of the reasons why it is not advisable to drink directly from a can or pour its contents into a container without first cleaning the lid. That’s why we created this post especially for you, the reader.

1. The can may contain the urine of an animal

Animal urine can transmit several diseases. One of them is leptospirosis, caused by a bacteria that can be present in the urine of animals such as rats and is transmitted by contact with it. Some of the symptoms are fever, headaches, muscle aches and general malaise. The picture can even get complicated, generating some more serious problem.

2. Canned goods are at risk of being contaminated by dust and dirt from the environment.

It is not advisable to eat food whose cans are dusty. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), food under these conditions may be contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms, such as Bacillus cereus bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and even vomiting in humans.

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3. Insects such as cockroaches can use the cans to deposit their eggs or droppings.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these animals are transmitters of diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, typhoid fever, gangrene and leprosy. And the best way to avoid them is to wash the cans with soap and water before opening them.

4. Animal or insect remains can get into your food

Canned food lids may contain small remains of insects such as flies, spiders or cockroaches. If you don’t clean the lid, this dirt can go unnoticed and you still run the risk of it falling into the food, contaminating it. In addition, some insects, such as flies, are carriers of more than 60 diseases, including typhoid fever, cholera and polio.

Do you wash cans before consuming food? It’s never too late to acquire new habits. Tell us if you already knew any of the data we show. If you know of others, please share in the comments section.