Why Are Some Food Packages Bloated? The Surprising Difference Between a Normal Bag of Chips and a Potential Food Safety Warning.

different from noticing a sudden or unusual change.

What Causes Food Packaging to Swell?

There are several possible explanations.

Microbial Gas Production

Some microorganisms can produce carbon dioxide and other gases as they grow. In a sealed container, those gases have nowhere to escape, so pressure can build.

This is

one reason unexpectedly swollen packaging can be concerning with certain perishable foods.

However, you shouldn’t try to identify the microorganism based on the amount of swelling—or assume that a lack of swelling means the food is safe.

Chemical Reactions

Gas can sometimes be generated through chemical reactions within a product