Canned Meat

Name: Canned meat — cooked meat sealed in cans, a shelf-stable food that lasts for years without refrigeration. Examples include corned beef, luncheon meat (such as Spam), canned ham, chicken, and tinned stews and chilli.

Description

Canning was invented in the early 19th century for the French military, and canned meat has fed soldiers, sailors, explorers and families in emergencies for generations. The cans are sealed and heated under pressure, which kills the bacteria, and the sealed food keeps for years.

Today canned meat remains popular in many places, particularly in the Pacific islands, Philippines, Hawaii, West Africa and the Caribbean, where it is valued for convenience and long shelf life. It is also a common part of food aid and emergency supplies.

Main nutrition value

Processed meats provide protein, but they are typically high in salt and saturated fat, and cured products contain added nitrites. Canned meat is usually high in salt, and some products are high in fat.

How best to be consumed

Canned meat is a convenience food, eaten in moderation.

1. Drain and rinse where possible, to reduce the salt.
2. Mix with vegetables, rice, eggs, beans or pasta, to stretch it and add fibre.
3. Check the label for salt, fat and additives, and choose lower-salt options.
4. Avoid cans that are bulging, leaking or badly dented, since the contents may not be safe.
5. Once opened, keep refrigerated in a covered container, and use within 2 to 3 days.

Overconsumption could cause…

Canned meat is a processed food, best as an occasional or emergency food.

1. Higher risk of bowel cancer and other conditions with regular intake of processed meat, which the World Health Organization's cancer agency classifies as carcinogenic to humans, because of nitrites, salt and smoking, so keep it occasional.
2. High salt (sodium), which can raise blood pressure over time, particularly in cured, canned and processed products.
3. Raised LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk from the saturated fat in fattier cuts, skin and processed products, so choose lean cuts and trim visible fat.
4. Botulism, a rare but serious illness, from damaged cans, so discard cans that are bulging or leaking.
5. Chemicals such as BPA in some can linings, which may migrate into food.

GroupsProcessed MeatCanned

Related foodsBaconChicken NuggetsChorizoCorned BeefDeli MeatFish Cakes

Wikipedia — Canned meat, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canned_meat