The 2's, 7's, and 8's, as well as the letters B, C, D, and L are all 5 dots wide. The 1 is only 3 wide, and the 0 is only 4 wide, but each seems to have a larger gap to the next number. The punctuation (colon and period) seems to be 2 dots wide with significant spacing around them. That suggests this font is a monospaced font with each character 5 dots wide, spaced 2 dots apart.
So it makes sense for 3 to use all 5 dots of width. And the one unambiguous 3 we see is 4 dots wide, placed in a spot approximately one dot too far right. The way you've filled in the 3 makes the most sense, and leads to the straightforward conclusion that the unidentified character is a 3.
The 7 above is also missing some dots on the right, so there's an entire vertical strip of erased ink. The numbers are up to 5 dots wide, but the existing 3 only has 4 dots on the bottom. It's possible that a fifth is supposed to be there one spot higher, matching the missing number, but it just got clipped by the erased part.
I made a comment above explaining why I think it's a monospaced font with each character 5 dots wide, with 2 dots of space between characters. The 1 uses 3 dots and the 0 uses 4, while the period and colon use 2 dots of width. But each of these less than 5-dot-wide characters also is surrounded by more than the typical 2 dots worth of space, proportional to the assumption that each character is assigned 5 dots of width.
BBD (best by date) is going to be 1 year, or some other legally specified number of days, from the date of manufacturing/canning. It can fall on the end of a month, but not intentionally. 28-Mar-2025 was a Friday.
Best before date is not a used by date. You can eat something well after a best before date, it just might not be exactly the same as something “fresh”, but still edible. Used by is when there’s a chance for harm.
My vote is “3” even though it doesn’t match the 3 above it.
My vote is to taste and smell the fucking thing. This is what every chef in every kitchen you eat at has always done. That will tell you if it's edible. BBD is a suggestion, so a few months out of date means wildly different things if it's been kept at an average of 20c or 30c.
I've tasted shit that was 5 years past BBD. Didn't taste good, but didn't cause any harm. Trust your taste and smell to tell you what's bad. Evolution spent millions of years tuning your senses.
Looks are also important. Botulism doesn't have a taste or smell, but the can will often be swollen or at least pressurised, so never eat a swollen can.
5 or 9, neither of which show up otherwise, so we can't be quite sure which one matches.
1, 4, and 7 can be thrown right out as the dots just wouldn't line up that way. 0, 2, 3, 6, and 8 have other examples in the image that don't match the dot pattern.
2 could match if the digit in question is missing dots within the visible columns, and 3 could match if the existing example is missing a leftmost column.
2 doesn't match because the top leftmost dot shouldn't be there. If it's shifted by a column, then the bottom leftmost dot shouldn't be there, and the spacing isn't quite right, either.
3 doesn't match because the other example of a 3 doesn't have a dot in the bottom leftmost dot that's printed.
Or the whole thing is a misprint, in which case I don't think we can even figure it out.
Those printers have small heads and print (in this case) left to right. Most likely it is not missing dots in the same column, which discards the chance of a 5. I would say it is a 3.
If you bought more than one can, check the other ones, as most likely they are from the same batch.
From another angle: who cares! You ate it already, and the BBD year is 2026
It doesn't match the 3 above because the 3 above is also missing some dots. There is a stripe right down the printing that impacts the unknown number and a 7 on the left and the 3 on the right. It cuts the left most curve of the upper 3 off while also cutting the 7.
Yes but the there is printed like a normal three. The font on a computer screen showing 3 has the left edge of the three arced down. In a can I’ve never seen it arced down.
1: no
2: Possibly
3: no
4: no - no examples, but I don't think any format would have the 2 dots at the bottom left corner
5: Possibly - no examples though
6: no
7: No
8: no
9: No - no examples, but same reason as 4
If it were a 2, I think the left side of the 2 may have been cut off
Very crude markup:
Green: The dots I think were included
Red: The dots I'm assuming you're referring to (in which case I would agree with you)
Blue: Showing the (extremely rough) alignment. Based on the 7, there's a max of 5 dots across for a given character. Indicating there is a potential row on the left that may either be the actual left side of the character (in which case it would be red and you would be right), or it's also a misprint (which then it ccoouulldd be green)
75 Comments
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 79 pts · 349d
It's a 3
ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 348d
That's great. I could see it was a 3 but I couldn't explain how I knew until I scrolled.
The pattern that the 7 above was also clipped revealing the edge of the 3 also was missed made it click.
Neat!
I wouldn't have caught the 6 over there was clipped though. That's some analysis right there. Thorough.
exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 348d
I think you're right.
The 2's, 7's, and 8's, as well as the letters B, C, D, and L are all 5 dots wide. The 1 is only 3 wide, and the 0 is only 4 wide, but each seems to have a larger gap to the next number. The punctuation (colon and period) seems to be 2 dots wide with significant spacing around them. That suggests this font is a monospaced font with each character 5 dots wide, spaced 2 dots apart.
So it makes sense for 3 to use all 5 dots of width. And the one unambiguous 3 we see is 4 dots wide, placed in a spot approximately one dot too far right. The way you've filled in the 3 makes the most sense, and leads to the straightforward conclusion that the unidentified character is a 3.
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world · 62 pts · 349d
I’d say 3, except that the 3 on the line above has a flat bottom line.
If it’s also missing some dots from the middle, it could be part of the second and third columns of a 2.
radix@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 349d
I still vote for 3.
The 7 above is also missing some dots on the right, so there's an entire vertical strip of erased ink. The numbers are up to 5 dots wide, but the existing 3 only has 4 dots on the bottom. It's possible that a fifth is supposed to be there one spot higher, matching the missing number, but it just got clipped by the erased part.
radix@lemmy.world · 50 pts · 349d
meco03211@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 349d
I'm convinced. I'm team 3.
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 349d
Actually now I am too. The digits all seem to be normally 5 dots wide.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 348d
Except zero for some reason.
exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 348d
I made a comment above explaining why I think it's a monospaced font with each character 5 dots wide, with 2 dots of space between characters. The 1 uses 3 dots and the 0 uses 4, while the period and colon use 2 dots of width. But each of these less than 5-dot-wide characters also is surrounded by more than the typical 2 dots worth of space, proportional to the assumption that each character is assigned 5 dots of width.
ylph@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 348d
To differentiate it from O - making 0 narrow is a common way to do that
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 349d
That’s a possibility.
My other argument, though, is that in 2026 February 28 is the end of a month, while March 28 is a random Saturday.
radix@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 349d
BBD (best by date) is going to be 1 year, or some other legally specified number of days, from the date of manufacturing/canning. It can fall on the end of a month, but not intentionally. 28-Mar-2025 was a Friday.
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 349d
Ah yes, I'd say 2 is the most likely candidate
Edit: I'm on team 3 now thanks to radix's comment
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 349d
Another argument in favor of 2 is that February 2026 has 28 days, so 2 is the only digit that would make the date the end of a month.
underline960@sh.itjust.works · 55 pts · 349d
The BBD year is 2026 and you've already opened the can. Man, if we were roommates and you'd called me downstairs for this...
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 349d
...I'd hope you'd be just as curious as me as to the mystery digit!
underline960@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 349d
Pass the joint and
lemmelemmy have a look at it.asudox@lemmy.asudox.dev · 30 pts · 349d
I say 5. Look at the 3 at the top. It has a flat bottom, while the one you want to know does not.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 14 pts · 349d
But look at the 3 closer. It's 4 dots wide. It's missing the leftmost column of dots.
asudox@lemmy.asudox.dev · 3 pts · 348d
Oh yeah, you're right. I missed that lol
edit: but how did you know that the one on the top was missing the curve?
kernelle@0d.gs · 2 pts · 348d
Team 3 checking in!
itsathursday@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 349d
Best before date is not a used by date. You can eat something well after a best before date, it just might not be exactly the same as something “fresh”, but still edible. Used by is when there’s a chance for harm.
My vote is “3” even though it doesn’t match the 3 above it.
WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 349d
My vote is to taste and smell the fucking thing. This is what every chef in every kitchen you eat at has always done. That will tell you if it's edible. BBD is a suggestion, so a few months out of date means wildly different things if it's been kept at an average of 20c or 30c.
I've tasted shit that was 5 years past BBD. Didn't taste good, but didn't cause any harm. Trust your taste and smell to tell you what's bad. Evolution spent millions of years tuning your senses.
DarkSirrush@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 349d
Looks are also important. Botulism doesn't have a taste or smell, but the can will often be swollen or at least pressurised, so never eat a swollen can.
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 349d
I agree with both of you
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org · 12 pts · 349d
It is a 5.
Nothing left to guess. All others can be ruled out with the dots that we actually see.
2 can be ruled out because there is one dot wrong in the upper left corner.
3 can be ruled out because there is one dot wrong in the lower left corner.
7 can be ruled out because there is one dot wrong in the lower left corner.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 13 pts · 349d
I reckon it's a 3 and the other visible 3 has a column missing as well.
IndustryStandard@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 349d
Bottom 3 dots do not match.
Blackmist@feddit.uk · 14 pts · 349d
IndustryStandard@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 349d
Naniiii
ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 349d
I think it's a 3, and I think the top one has also been cut off.
StarMerchant938@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 349d
princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone · -3 pts · 349d
It looks like it could be an 8.
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org · 4 pts · 349d
No, it cannot be an 8 because of the dot in the top left corner. Compare it to the other 8 there.
princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 349d
The top left and bottom right dots should line up entirely but it's a misprint so I don't think an eight can be discounted entirely:
(I used a rectangle to overlay to show the alignment against a known straight line)
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org · 2 pts · 348d
OK so we need to align assumptions :-)
I am going with the assumption that an unknown amount is missing, but these dots that we can see are all in their correct places.
If you want to assume that the dots that we can see may be wrong, then I won't discuss your conclusions any further.
princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone · -3 pts · 348d
They're within the margin of error to be aligned as an eight but I dunno, maybe take this post a little less seriously and go outside? Yeesh.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 11 pts · 349d
5 or 9, neither of which show up otherwise, so we can't be quite sure which one matches.
1, 4, and 7 can be thrown right out as the dots just wouldn't line up that way. 0, 2, 3, 6, and 8 have other examples in the image that don't match the dot pattern.
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 349d
2 could match if the digit in question is missing dots within the visible columns, and 3 could match if the existing example is missing a leftmost column.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 349d
2 doesn't match because the top leftmost dot shouldn't be there. If it's shifted by a column, then the bottom leftmost dot shouldn't be there, and the spacing isn't quite right, either.
3 doesn't match because the other example of a 3 doesn't have a dot in the bottom leftmost dot that's printed.
Or the whole thing is a misprint, in which case I don't think we can even figure it out.
morphballganon@mtgzone.com · 1 pts · 349d
9 wouldn't have a flat top
Ludrol@szmer.info · 9 pts · 349d
I vote for 5 with a lot of missing dots.
If dots didn't move (they sometimes do) only five would have flat top and missing corner.
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 349d
There are no 5s shown, but I’d expect a 5 to have the same bottom curve as a 3 (i.e., flat).
SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 349d
I would guess a number between 0 and 9
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 349d
I can narrow that down to 1 and 9, because it's definitely not the month of nontober
SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 349d
Lousy Smarch weather
iveseenthat@reddthat.com · 7 pts · 349d
Those printers have small heads and print (in this case) left to right. Most likely it is not missing dots in the same column, which discards the chance of a 5. I would say it is a 3.
If you bought more than one can, check the other ones, as most likely they are from the same batch.
From another angle: who cares! You ate it already, and the BBD year is 2026
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 349d
Well, me
iveseenthat@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 349d
Well, then I take that back. We sometimes care about things just because it is fun. Sorry if it sounded aggressive :)
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 349d
😘
morphballganon@mtgzone.com · 1 pts · 349d
You care whether something you already ate would have expired 7 months vs 9 months later?
meekah@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 349d
From the other comments it seems to me that OP doesn't care about the BBD, but just about figuring out which digit it is. For fun, I guess.
Panda@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 348d
The moment I saw it I immediately read it as a 3.
dan69@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 349d
A lowercase 8
ieatpwns@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 349d
I’d say 3
and the 3 that is there is missing a three pixel vertical slice on its left side
SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 349d
That's a fucking J lmao
ThunderComplex@lemmy.today · 5 pts · 349d
Ah yes, the 29th of OJ
Apeman42@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 348d
When the ancients performed the ritual Race of the White Bronco.
higgsboson@piefed.social · 3 pts · 349d
3
kambusha@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 349d
My guess too, but it doesn't match the 3 above
rowinxavier@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 349d
It doesn't match the 3 above because the 3 above is also missing some dots. There is a stripe right down the printing that impacts the unknown number and a 7 on the left and the 3 on the right. It cuts the left most curve of the upper 3 off while also cutting the 7.
Toes@ani.social · 3 pts · 349d
I'll vote for eight.
BlackEco@lemmy.blackeco.com · 2 pts · 349d
daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 348d
3 is the lower number that could fit there. Other numbers could fit depending on how much erase there was, but 3 is the lowest, thus the safest guess.
y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 347d
3 doesn't fit because the lower left dot doesn't match the position of the same dot in the 3 above it.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 349d
that is a 3.
the 3 above has been cut off as well.
no other numbers are flat on top and open on the back.
thermal_shock@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 349d
Lol it doesn't match the 3 above it at all.
tidoni_@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 349d
That is becaus the 3 you are seeing also misses a column of dots on the left side.
All numbers are made up of 5 colums of dots, but the 3 you recognize has only 4 colums visable.
thermal_shock@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 349d
Ok I can kinda see that.
andrewta@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 349d
I’d say two. Look at the two to right of it the pixels match
meekah@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 349d
But another 2 Pixels would be missing. The 7 above seems to show that the first two rows of those digits were printed completely.
andrewta@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 349d
Yes but the there is printed like a normal three. The font on a computer screen showing 3 has the left edge of the three arced down. In a can I’ve never seen it arced down.
_cryptagion@anarchist.nexus · 1 pts · 349d
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 349d
No
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 349d
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 349d
CocaineShrimp@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 349d
2 or 5. If I had to guess, it would be 2
1: no 2: Possibly 3: no 4: no - no examples, but I don't think any format would have the 2 dots at the bottom left corner 5: Possibly - no examples though 6: no 7: No 8: no 9: No - no examples, but same reason as 4
Opisek@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 349d
The 2 doesn't have a flat top. I say 5.
CocaineShrimp@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 349d
If it were a 2, I think the left side of the 2 may have been cut off
Very crude markup: