Canning and Fish Packaging Technology

Unit 5 - Changes in canned foods and spoilage

5.2.2.1.Physical causes
When the food can are lifted, moved from one place to the other loaded into baskets for retorting or packed in boxes, they are likely to get damaged if carelessly handled. The can loses its appearance. If the dents are small, the food inside the may not get affected. If the dent is on or near the double seam, it may become lose and leads to leakage. Physical damage can also occur due to sudden increase or decrease of pressure in the retort and leads to panelling. The other reason is over packing of food as there is no space for expansion of can contents during retorting, this may lead to flipper or springer type of spoilage. Moreover, over packing leads to under processing and the surviving bacteria can grow inside and spoil the can (bulging).