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Being an adult isn’t always easy. But luckily, we have TikTokers like @victoriassecrets___, who have taken it upon themselves to give us what they call “Adulting 101.” And one lesson in particular has gone especially viral.
In the clip, which has amassed 2.8 million views, the creator can be seen in Trader Joe’s pointing at a bloated-looking chicken pack. “See how bloated this container is?” she asks, before prodding the package. “You can’t feel the chicken on this one,” she explains. She then pointed to another less bloated pack, saying, “But you can here.”
Returning to the first pack, she says, “This is bad. Don’t pick this. In fact, this needs to be trashed. This is what we’re talking about—bloated, bloated packaging. No, it’s bacteria-ridden.”
Many commenters weren’t surprised by this claim. “The amount of young people who weren’t taught adulting basics is staggering,” one wrote. “I thought EVERYONE knew that,” another added, while a third added: “There’s so many things like this that need to be taught in school.”
Others were grateful for the tip. “Every damn day it’s another thing to worry about,” a fourth commenter said. “I hate adulting.” A fifth simply wrote, “Thanks for your service.”
The TikToker didn’t immediately respond to BroBible’s request for comment via TikTok comment and email.
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While numerous other commenters agreed that the puffiness was due to bacteria, it might not be as bad as it sounds. In conversation with Eating Well, food safety expert Meredith Carothers revealed another reason for this package swelling. “For example, some meats or poultry are packaged in ‘MAP,’ or modified atmosphere packaging,” Carothers, who works with the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), explained.
MAP packaging essentially involves introducing a number of gases to the package, which can, in turn, give said packages a swollen appearance. “The purpose of these approved, inert gases is to extend the shelf life of the product,” she added. So, if you come across a bloated package, it may not be an automatic sign that it’s bad.
That being said, Carothers also claimed that “swelling can occur in packaging due to gases formed as a result of spoilage taking place, with bacterial growth causing gases to form.”
Still, even if the gas doesn’t 100% mean spoilage, Carothers recommends that we stay away from bloated packaging either way. “We here at FSIS err on the side of caution and recommend when observing swollen, puffy packages, it’s best to not use, as they are potentially spoiled and therefore risky or unsafe,” she concludes.
Trader Joe’s didn’t immediately respond to BroBible’s request for comment via contact form.
Content shared from brobible.com.