Canned goods remain one of the most popular sources of food in the United States. Grand View Research reported that 98% of households keep them in their kitchens. If you have these popular household foods in your pantry, this woman’s discovery may be your sign to check yours.
What did this woman find?
“I have an issue here. Look what happened,” Wisconsin-based TikTok creator Ali (@alismiless) says, flipping her camera to unveil the shelves of canned foods in her kitchen pantry.
“So, I’m in my cabinets. I was starting to move things around, and I noticed this,” she says, pushing one of the cans to the side to unveil a discolored can of Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup.
As the content creator continues rummaging, more dark, spotty Campbell’s cans appear. Then, she picks one up with black-burn-like holes, and it leaves a black ring in its place. “One of my cans did this little number. What the hell is that?” she asks, aghast, tilting the can to show more damage and the 2026 best by date. “That’s concerning.”
But Campbell’s isn’t the only one. “What the hell is going on here?” Ali questions, pulling out a Kirkland Signature Organic Tomato Paste with a dried tomato leak on its side. When she scours deeper into the cabinet, she notices another can glued to the wall from the dried-out paste. “What in the world?”
“Is canned food supposed to leak?” the content creator asks in the text overlay.
Furthermore, Ali elaborated in the comments section, writing, “The cabinets are new. Literally virginal shelves. These are the only cans that have touched the shelves. The back side of the pantry is the dining room.”
What did viewers say?
The video garnered over 74,000 views. Some believed botulism infected the cans.
“Oh no I’d be worried about botulism,” one viewer remarked.
“Botulism. That’s what that is,” a second echoed.
Moreover, others had similar experiences, sharing their unpleasant findings in their cabinets.
“I just threw out cans too that wasn’t expired they swelled and leaked all over. Never seen that before,” one commenter shared.
“This just happened to me a couple weeks ago. I discovered a leaking can of sliced peaches,” a second recalled.
“Had that happen to with 3 cans in my pantry. Rotel and 2 cans of regular tomatoes. Two different manufacturers. Pantry is temperature controlled, and not on an outside wall, and not expired,” a third revealed.
Can botulism cause this in canned food?
According to the CDC, botulism is a rare and potentially life-threatening illness produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria that attacks the body’s nervous system. Typically, this bacterium thrives in the absence of oxygen. During the canning process, the food is placed in a jar or can and heated to a temperature that kills harmful microorganisms, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation. However, improperly canned, minimally processed, or improperly sealed food poses a risk of botulism.
WebMD states that cans with dents, leaks, or a rancid smell may indicate botulism. When in doubt, throw it out.
@alismiless I need answers! What would cause my foods to do this #botulism #cannedfood #feedingtime #surprise #yuck ♬ In The Kitchen – Giulio Cercato
The Mary Sue reached out to Ali via TikTok comment and direct message, as well as Campbell’s via press email, and Costco via media contact form.
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