Sometimes packaging can expand because of temperature changes or the way a product was sealed, but unusual swelling should not be ignored, especially with meat, dairy products, ready-made meals, or canned foods.
If a package looks puffed up, leaks, smells strange, or sprays liquid or gas when opened, it is safer not to taste the food. Spoiled food can sometimes contain harmful bacteria even when the appearance does not seem very bad.
The safest choice is to discard suspicious swollen packages and follow storage instructions carefully. When there is doubt about whether packaged food is still safe, it is better not to take the risk.
