Is this legal?

Dented tin cans can be dangerous but a supermarket is selling them while encouraging customers to donate items to foodbanks. 

Tesco Park Road Loughborough is displaying a range of food items marked down with some tin cans so severely damaged the seal on the rim is affected. Cans with even tiny dents in the rim are considered high – risk and it’s advised they are thrown away.  

One can of Ambrosia cream rice is displayed priced at £2.30 reduced from £3.62 although the price on Tesco.com is £1.50. Clearly this is being sold for a profit while customers are encouraged to donate their purchased items to collections for food banks. 

Damage to the items on display appears mainly as packaging issues but tin cans dented to such a depth can result in the growth of botulism, a deadly form of bacteria causing serious food poisoning and nerve damage.   

Jamie from the Loughborough Area Food Bank, of the Trussell Trust said tins with a small dent are not a problem but if it’s more serious they can’t be used. 

“Selling bashed tins for a profit is another matter,” he said.