Man eats out-of-date food to prove how long groceries really last

We've all heard of the expression 'Waste not, want not', but one man has taken these wise words to the next level.

TikToker Gavin Wren wanted to prove a point about expiration dates on food, so decided to eat food he'd brought months in advance.

Wren filmed himself tucking into a box of cheese that he'd picked up in November 2022.

Why is he going to these seemingly drastic lengths?

Wren explained: "I wanted to find a way to help people to reduce food waste."

TikTok/@gavin.wren

The food policy expert believes that a lot of people throw away food simply because of the dates labelled on the box, even though a lot of it is still safe to consume.

Although he is not insisting that people emulate him exactly, he wants others to gain a better understanding of how to reduce their own food waste.

Since he began making TikToks in 2020, Wren has eaten some...questionable stuff.

He gulped down milk that was 41 days out of date, without getting sick, and tucked into yoghurt that was 43 days out of date.

The yogurt had reportedly started growing mould but otherwise tasted fine.

I'll take your word for it, Gavin.

Ironically, Wren's only run-in with a dodgy stomach came when he ate some spinach that was still in-date.

Wren explained: "It was a bit soggy but I thought I'd be fine."

The spinach had been run through his pasta, but wasn't heated up too much. Shortly after eating it, he fell ill.

Some foods pose a higher risk of food poisoning than others, including raw and undercooked meat; fruits and vegetables; raw milk and products made with it; eggs; raw or undercooked seafood; sprouts including alfalfa; and raw flour.

TikTok/@gavin.wren

Leafy greens - like spinach - can cause upset as they can carry harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.

Most foods that can be stored in cupboard are usually safe to eat past by the date labelled, such as cans of fish, soup, or vegetables lasting for two to five years — assuming they're not dented — and pasta and rice lasting for two.

Food eaten after these time frames can put their consumers at risk of illness.

Frozen foods are also generally a safe bet, though it does depend on whether or not the packaging has been damaged and how long they've been left in the freezer.

When all else fails, the sniff test tends not to steer you wrong, nine times out of ten.

Topics: TikTok, Food and Drink

Ben Thompson