Botulism??what are the chances?

Question

My husband and I ate out of a can that was dented, (chef boy r dee) what are the chances of one of us getting Botulism? if it happens to one will it happen to the other?

The edges werent sharp , one was on the top of the can near the place u open it, and the other was in the middle of the can.

I didnt know that it could even cause this until after we ate it and i looked it up.

I am also 26 weeks pregnant. should i be worried?

Answer 1

Botulism usually makes the can puffy, not dented.

Chef Boyardee is not a likely source for botulism. If it was, there'd be one h**l of a recall going on. But there are no recalls on canned pasta right now (I know because I track food recalls nationwide and study foodborne diseases). besides, canned pastas with TOMATO sauces are not a likely culprit because the food is too acidic for the bacteria to survive in.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism usually start with in 12-36 hours after eating. Symptoms include fatigue and dizziness, followed by vomiting, nausea, constipation or diarrhea. Then flaccid descending paralysis on the limbs. That means you'll go limp and numb starting with the upper body (arms, fingers) and then it works its way down to your legs and feet.

And if you are pregnant, you really should improve your diet and avoid canned, processed, high-sodium, high-fat convenience foods like Chef Boyardee in general. Everyone, including your baby, can benefit from less junk food in their diet.