Wales: Man hit by exploding tin of baked beans

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A retired shop owner says he had a can of Tesco baked beans “explode” in his hands, prompting an investigation from the supermarket giant.

Ken Morriss pulled the ring on a can of baked beans and sausages, only for it to suddenly explode, revealing bubbling beans inside and releasing a rancid smell.

Speaking to North Wales Live, Ken Morriss said he was stung by the lid popping open. He then moved the can to a sink and filmed it bubbling away. Sharing the clip on social media, he warned shoppers of the potential danger, prompting others to share similar incidents.

Mr Morriss, 70, bought the Tesco beans at his local branch in Prestatyn, Denbighshire. He later took the product back to complain but, despite getting a refund, he was unhappy with the store’s response. The supermarket chain has since launched an investigation.

He said: “I pulled the ring pull and the lid blew open. It gave me one hell of a shock as the lid really did blow up fast, hitting the back of my fingers. The smell was disgusting and my hand was throbbing like a good ‘un.”

Millions of canned foods are bought and used without problems every year but occasionally things can go wrong. According to the US Canned Food Alliance, microbial spoilage of the contents, causing a build-up of gas, is one of the main causes of exploding cans.

Another is hydrogen produced by acid in the foodstuff interacting with the can’s metal. Less common is damage to cans during processing, or sealing them after the product has cooled down. Denting caused by rough handling can also be a factor.

Customers occasionally report cupboard explosions caused by spoiled cans left too long. A couple in West Sussex said they were awoken by what they thought was a bomb going off downstairs in their home – it was a can of beans.

When Mr Morriss shared his video on Facebook, people in Denbighshire and beyond shared their own horror stories. One woman said: “This actually happened to me a few weeks back. Exploded everywhere I still have the juice on my kitchen ceiling! So dangerous.”

Another had a similar incident with a tin of Heinz lentil soup a couple of years ago. “The smell was putrid… and lasted for ages,” she said. “It hurt my hand as it exploded whilst I pulled the ring pull. Contacted Heinz and they sent me £10 worth of coupons off Heinz products.”

Mr Morriss said he was not expecting special treatment when he returned his exploding can to Tesco Prestatyn, pointing out its March 2024 sell-by date. “The manager didn’t even oblige me by smelling the contents – it was very metallic and heavy,” said the ex-RAF man from Ffynnongroyw, Flintshire.

“He never took my details, he just gave me a refund on the tin. Be careful if you have any of these cans. What if it had been a child opening the tin and they couldn’t get their finger out of the ring pull?”

Tesco said an investigation was underway. A spokesperson said: “We were sorry to hear about this. We have refunded the customer and are investigating this with our supplier.”

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