Reincarnation has nothing to do with Carnation brand evaporated milk, but there are jokes.
“Who wants to come back as a tin of milk ?????” was posted on the newsgroup alt.support.arthritis on April 9, 1999. “Actually - I don’t believe in reincarnation I mean, who wants to come back as a tin of condensed milk ?” was posted on the newsgroup uk.local.south-wales on August 21, 2000.
“As Ken Dodd said…‘I don’t fancy reincarnation…who wants to come back as a tin of condensed milk’” was posted on the newsgroup uk.rec.sheds on September 16, 2003. “When Ken Dodd was asked if he believed in reincarnation he wondered why anyone would want to come back as a tin of condensed milk” was posted on Twitter by GW Ell on August 2, 2011. English comedian Ken Dodd probably popularized the joke.
Wikipedia: Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the philosophical or religious belief that the non-physical essence of a living being starts a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. It is also called rebirth or transmigration. Resurrection is a similar process hypothesized by some religions, that involves coming back to life in the same body.
Wikipedia: Carnation (brand)
Carnation is a brand of food products. The brand was especially known for its evaporated milk product created in 1899, then called Carnation Sterilized Cream and later called Carnation Evaporated Milk. The brand has since been used for other related products including milk-flavoring mixes, flavored beverages, flavor syrups, hot cocoa mixes, instant breakfasts, corn flakes, ice cream novelties, and dog food. Nestlé acquired the Carnation Company in 1985.
Google Groups: alt.support.arthritis
DO YOU BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION? 1638
K Kelly
Apr 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Who wants to come back as a tin of milk ????? 😊
Google Groups: uk.local.south-wales
A Usefull Life after Death
Allan Webber
Aug 21, 2000, 3:00:00 AM
Actually - I don’t believe in reincarnation
I mean, who wants to come back as a tin of condensed milk ?
Google Groups: uk.rec.sheds
Tea review
Guy King
Sep 16, 2003, 10:49:16 AM
David Reid
mumbled:
> Does anyone else make full cream condensed milk?
There are several ownbrands, but I don’t know who makes ‘em.
As Ken Dodd said…“I don’t fancy reincarnation…who wants to come back as a tin of condensed milk”
Google Groups: freeserve.chat
Reincarnation
Wally
Jul 7, 2004, 4:30:54 PM
(...)
I believe in reincarnation, problem is, I don,t realy want to come back as a tin of milk.
26 April 2006, The Guardian (London, UK), “Notes & queries: Death is almost nothing at all,” pg. 28:
I find all this talk of reincarnation very worrying. I’m buggered if I want to come back as a tin of evaporated milk.
Martin Saunders, London SE22
Twitter
Mrs Mathews.
@Grinderwoman
I believe in reincarnation. I’d like to come back as a tin of condensed milk.
12:26 PM · Jan 15, 2010·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Chae Strathie
@chaestrathie
When I die I want to come back as a canned, evaporated dairy product. Reincarnation milk.
3:45 PM · Aug 23, 2010·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Mark
@Mark_Aich
Replying to @bimbler
@bimbler I don’t believe in reincarnation. I don’t want to come back as a tin of milk
4:59 PM · Dec 21, 2010·Snaptu
Twitter
GW Ell
@geewll
@KimHarris When Ken Dodd was asked if he believed in reincarnation he wondered why anyone would want to come back as a tin of condensed milk
11:12 PM · Aug 2, 2011·Twitter Web Client
Facebook
David Shenton
March 12, 2018 at 5:12 AM ·
Ken Dodd…. Do I believe in reincarnation? Why would I want to come back as a tin of milk?
Twitter
The Dad Joke Man
@DadJokeMan
I don’t believe in reincarnation.
Who wants to come back as a tin of milk?.... #BadJokeFriday
11:42 AM · Jun 1, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
victoria walley
@vwalley25
Replying to @AlanKelloggs and @GeoffShadbold
Favourite Ken Dodd joke
“ l don’t believe in reincarnation, who want to come back as a tin of milk?”
1:35 PM · Nov 17, 2020·Twitter for iPad
Twitter
Lorraine Jo King
@lahlahbean
#badjokethursday
Teacher: George, what is reincarnation?
George: Is it where you die and come back as a tin of condensed milk?
1:56 AM · Dec 24, 2020·Twitter for iPhone