Will a woman being on her menstrual cycle while canning food have any effect on the quality of the canned foo?

Question

My mother was telling me of what she believed to be an old wives tale about that a woman should not can tomatoes while menstruating as it would spoil the food. She happened to be in her cycle one time while canning and wanted to test this theory and canned the tomatoes. Every jar of tomatoes was spoiled and rancid when she opened them later. What would cause this? Hormones? Something released through the pores?

Answer 1

and there is also an old wives tale that says men with small noses have small uh...well

Answer 2

ever hear of self fulfilling prophesy? That is probably what did it, I have canned plenty in the past and didn't care if it was that time or not. Most likely if they spoiled it was because we are much less patient at that time and wish to take short cuts!

Answer 3

Cree people believe this as well. They are not to even attend ceremonies if they are on their moon time.
Personally, I am apt to disagree. Simply because many women work in factories where food is canned and many of them work when they are on their period. If your mom was correct, a lot of food would be spoiled.

Answer 4

If you're cranky it might have an effect on the quality(because you tend to want to rush things, and canning can't be rushed), but I don't think just being on your period would have anything to do with the quality.

Answer 5

Oh.. that is a good one for the comic section.... Of COURSE NOT.. that is absolutely not true and one on the other has absolutely NO correlation(one to the other).. thanks for the laugh

Answer 6

Hey wolfman,

You wanna buy a bridge?

Answer 7

only if she does'nt wash her hands ; when doing both things

Answer 8

no ,its a myth only