An advocate for food safety advised against TikTok’s tiramisu trend, saying that keeping the dessert in your car could lead to E. coli infections and more.
Snacks on the go are a must, especially when they include a decadent dessert. However, TikTok’s viral tiramisu trend, where foodies eat tiramisu that has been stored in the center compartment of their car between the two front seats, raised concerns among food safety experts.
The tiramisu trend took off in January when ‘itsmeju1iette’ posted a video of her and her friends eating the layered dessert from her center console. The video amassed 6.9M views and over 283K likes.
Generally, tiramisu should be refrigerated for the long haul, as it has dairy ingredients. This factor, among others, led Food Safety Advocate and Partner & Personal Injury Lawyer at Wagner Reese, Jason Reese, to issue a warning against recreating the viral trend.
Food safety advocate and lawyer advises TikTokers to avoid tiramisu trend
“Viral food challenges, like the TikTok tiramisu trend with millions of views, are a reminder to abide by federally-regulated food safety standards and avoid unsafe practices. The risks for bacterial growth on food that has been improperly stored in a car and the chance of exposure to harmful listeria, salmonella, and E. coli infections are high, and it is vital to spread consumer awareness not to jump on the bandwagon,” Reese said.
“It may look fun to eat tiramisu or other foods right from the center console of a car, but these pathogens can make people sick, and consumers should be aware that it’s not worth the potential food safety risks.
“When enjoying tiramisu or any other food, make sure it is stored as experts advise to promote proper food temperatures that do not encourage the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that are known to cause severe illnesses.”
Viewers of the viral tiramisu trend also stated their concerns, saying it was “actually insane” to eat the dessert from the compartment in their car.
Just one month ago, another expert warned against the viral ‘mukbang in the car’ trend where TikTokers eat or store their food in their vehicle. Following the trend, Dr Singh, a health expert at WINIT Clinic, warned that it could lead to bacteria growth and “many health complications.”