What should I do with a dented or damaged food package before opening it?
Quick answer
Before opening a damaged package, check what kind of damage it has and whether the seal or seams are affected. FDA advises against buying swollen or leaking cans, cans dented along top or side seams, and sealed packages that are torn, punctured, separating at seams, or apparently resealed or repaired. If damage falls outside these examples, do not judge safety by appearance alone; set it aside and ask the seller or manufacturer for guidance. [S1]
The question, the details, the next step.
I noticed a dent in a food package before opening it. What should I check first?
Pause before opening it. Look at the damage and the package’s closures: Is it swollen or leaking? Is a seam affected? Is a sealed wrapper torn, punctured, separating, or apparently repaired? FDA advises against buying swollen or leaking cans, cans dented along their top or side seams, and sealed packages with those kinds of damage, because damage can permit contamination. [S1]
If you already have the item, those warnings are a reason to leave it unopened and seek product-specific guidance. Keep the package and its label available so you can describe the product and damage accurately. Don’t rely on how the food looks or smells: FDA notes that food can look and smell normal while unsafe. [S1]
It is a small dent, but it is not on a seam. Does that mean it is safe?
Not necessarily. The FDA examples identify cans dented along top or side seams as a reason not to buy them, but they do not establish that every dent away from a seam is safe—or give a rule for every food or package type. [S1] Don’t treat “small” or “not on a seam” as proof.
Check whether the package is also swollen, leaking, punctured, torn, separating, or showing signs of repair. If you can’t tell whether the seal or seam is intact, set the item aside rather than testing it by opening it. Contact the retailer or manufacturer and describe the damage; follow any product-specific instructions they provide.
What should I say when I contact them, and what should I do with the package meanwhile?
Give a concise, factual description, without guessing about safety. For example:
“Hello, I have an unopened [product name and size]. The package has [describe the damage and location]. I noticed it before opening. The label shows [lot or date code, if present]. Should I return it, or what do you recommend?”
Until you get guidance, leave it unopened. Keep the package or take a picture of the damage and label if that is practical. These steps preserve information for your question; they do not determine whether the food is safe.
What if the damage is on a carton or pouch rather than a can, or it looks and smells fine?
Use the same pause-and-check approach, but don’t assume the can examples cover every package. FDA specifically warns against sealed packages that are torn, punctured, separating at seams, or appearing resealed or repaired; it also says its guidance does not provide a rule for every product or replace manufacturer instructions. [S1] For damage not covered by those examples, the guidance does not establish whether that particular item is safe. Ask the retailer or manufacturer rather than deciding from appearance alone.
A normal smell or appearance does not settle the question: FDA says food may look and smell normal while unsafe. [S1] Leave a damaged item unopened while you seek product-specific guidance, especially when you cannot confirm that its seal is intact.
A practical checklist
Pause and leave the package unopened while assessing the damage.
Check for swelling, leakage, torn or punctured seals, separating seams, or apparent repairs.
For a can, note whether a dent is along the top or side seam; do not assume other dents are harmless.
Record the product name and any lot or date code, and describe the damage plainly.
Set the item aside and ask the retailer or manufacturer when the guidance does not clearly cover the damage.
A few more useful answers
Can I decide a damaged package is safe if the food looks and smells normal?
No. FDA notes that food can look and smell normal while unsafe, so appearance and smell alone cannot settle the question. [S1]
Does the guidance cover every kind of food package?
No. The cited FDA guidance gives package-condition examples but does not establish a rule for every product or replace manufacturer instructions. For damage outside those examples, ask the retailer or manufacturer. [S1]
Should I open the package to inspect the food inside?
If the package is damaged or its seal may be compromised, leave it unopened while you seek product-specific guidance. Opening it does not establish that it is safe.
Sources
References used for this guide.
- [S1] Surplus, Salvaged, and Donated Foods — FDA fda.gov · Checked