By Kate Lally,Natalie King

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Tinned foods are convenient, as they have a lengthy shelf life and are typically affordable.

However, one medic is now cautioning people against eating food from a tin under particular conditions.

It comes as a weight loss doctor also revealed a 49p tinned food could help slash cholesterol.

NHS surgeon and author Dr Karan Rajan enjoys enormous popularity on social media, boasting millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok.

He routinely shares useful and educational health advice – whilst frequently dispelling myths propagated by other platform users.

In a recent post, the doctor has outlined why we should “throw out” specific tinned products.

The doctor subsequently shared a clip in which a woman describes purchasing a four-pack of tinned soup, only to discover most of the tins were damaged upon removing them from the external packaging.

Dr Karan explained: “If you have dented cans, here’s what to look for to know if it’s safe to use.

“Look for dents on the side seam. These are usually covered by the label, so make sure you peel it off to inspect it carefully.”

He noted that if there’s a dent on the side that “doesn’t involve the side seam” of the tin, or create a sharp, pointed edge, the contents inside should remain safe for consumption.

Dr Karan continued by stating that dents which do produce a sharp, pointed edge might create a tiny puncture that “compromises the can” and advised people to dispose of it in such circumstances, reports Surrey Live.

Dents that affect the top seam of the tin, he went on, also render the entire product unsafe.

Minor dents which “don’t encroach the seam” are fine, the doctor explained, whilst a dent “so deep you can lay a finger on it” also “sounds safe”.

He continued: “If a can looks like it’s been crushed, throw it away. Also bin it if it looks like it’s about to explode.”

Dr Rajan clarified that not every single dented tin needs to be discarded but he added: “If in doubt, throw it out”.