Trust your nose and eyes.

Trust your nose and eyes.

Yes, you can tell — bulging cans, off smell, or unusual color mean it’s bad. Canned tuna lasts years, but if the can is swollen, dented near the seal, or leaking, don’t open it. That’s botulism territory. Toss the whole thing.

Once opened, trust your senses. Fresh canned tuna smells like the ocean, not like ammonia or sourness. If it looks brown or grey instead of pinkish-white, or has an oily sheen that seems off, pitch it. The texture should be firm flakes, not slimy mush.

Your nose knows. If you’re second-guessing, don’t risk it. The $2 you save isn’t worth food poisoning.