“Eating Metal?”

It’s important to buy a good can opener. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that openers that slit the metal with dull, straight blades can prove hazardous by depositing metal fragments in food. All openers produce some minute fragments, but to minimize danger, the FDA suggests:

1. Be sure the blade is sharp. Discard the opener if the blade is dull.

2. A rotating blade is more efficient and produces fewer and smaller metal fragments.

3. The blade should be kept clean to avoid clogging that might interfere with its rotation.—Alton L. Thygerson, Brigham Young University Department of Health Sciences