Chinese media Global Times reported on the 30th about the reasons why you shouldn't drink directly from a can beverage.

According to the article, a video recently posted on Chinese social media that became a hot topic showed several small insects attached to and moving on the pull tab of a canned beverage. Online users pointed out that they might be 'flour mites,' causing controversy due to the possibility that they could fall into the drink if opened without noticing. Many online users commented that 'it's scary to drink directly from a can beverage,' and comments introducing countermeasures such as 'I always wipe the can before drinking' and 'I use a straw after opening the pull tab' were also prominent.

In China, 'stay-on tabs,' which are pushed into the can with the tab remaining on top, have become mainstream for canned beverages. The article explained that 'compared to the traditional pull-off type, they can be opened with less force, and a straw can be fixed to the remaining tab portion for drinking, making them superior in terms of usability.' On the other hand, it also stated that 'there are concerns about hygiene,' and with stay-on tabs, a part of the tab enters the beverage when opened, so not a few people worry about the possibility of dust and bacteria attached to the surface mixing into the drink.

It was also pointed out that health problems have actually occurred due to bacteria and viruses adhering to canned beverages. It was reported that Chen (チェン), a truck driver in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, drank directly from a can beverage while eating his lunchbox during the day. That night, symptoms such as hot flashes in his feet and pain in his lower back and buttocks appeared. After a medical examination at the hospital, it was discovered that he had developed 'hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (a viral infection transmitted from the excrement of animals like rats).' According to the doctor, the canned beverage was highly likely to be the cause.

The article also reported that overseas death cases have been documented, introducing a case where a 23-year-old man in Malaysia drank directly from a can beverage, developed 'leptospirosis (an infection transmitted through contact with water or soil contaminated by rat urine, etc.),' suffered severe damage to his kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and heart, and ultimately died. As per the doctor, 'when many canned beverages are opened, a part of the pull tab enters the can, so if the lid portion is contaminated, the risk remains even when using a straw. Before drinking a canned beverage, it is safest to first clean the top of the can before drinking.' (Translation/Editing by Kitada)