Redditors Have Spoken: Boomers' Hygiene Habits With Food Misses The Mark

Baby boomers' food hygiene habits sometimes miss the mark with younger people, as evidenced by various posts on Reddit's numerous boomer-related subreddits. Many of those threads end up containing rants about the way that boomers approach (or don't approach) food and food safety.

Rather ironically, food safety is particularly critical for boomers. As individuals reach age 65 and above, they become more susceptible to the effects of food poisoning. Consequently, the boomer generation should ideally be taking more precautions with their food handling, not fewer. With that said, not all boomers put themselves and their household members at risk due to food preparation mistakes. Still, some boomer food hygiene behaviors have younger people across the Internet scratching their heads — and saying no to eating another home-cooked meal by Mom or Dad.

For instance, one pervasive accusation against boomers is that they don't always know or follow updated food safety guidelines. One Redditor complained about their boomer mother-in-law who washed raw poultry in the sink without cleaning it properly (or washing her hands afterwards). That's a big no-no: Bacteria found on uncooked poultry can spread in a kitchen, potentially leading to foodborne illnesses (like campylobacter and salmonella) or food poisoning symptoms you shouldn't ignore, (like an upset stomach, constant vomiting, and loose bowels).

People of any age can become confused by food expiration dates. However, some consumers may still store or eat food that's past its peak of freshness. And some boomers are no exception, if you believe Reddit commenters: Stories abound of boomer parents who have held onto food for decades, including one vintage bottle of Worcestershire sauce.

To be fair, many folks would find a proper explanation of "best by" dates on food to be quite helpful. "Sell by" and "use by" dates don't always mean that food past that date is bad. As food expert Donald Schaffner told NPR, "All of those dates are really there for food quality. They aren't there for safety." With that said, eating or serving extremely outdated and expired food is unhygienic. Food can go bad, setting up the possibility for food poisoning. Sometimes, food poisoning can even be life-threatening. For instance, canned items that contain botulism can send someone to the hospital.

A possible reason for this particular boomer behavior is overconfidence. Boomers may think that due to their age, they can tell if a food has actually expired, such as through a "sniff test." Ultimately, though, it's best for everyone — not just boomers — to learn how to interpret expiration labels accurately.

Boomers also have a Reddit reputation for keeping precooked food in containers for weeks and even months. This is a food safety problem that could lead to someone getting sick, as foods can go bad faster than you might assume. But why wouldn't boomers just toss stuff that looks gross? Their upbringing likely played a big part in this: When they were coming of age in the 1950s and 1960s, they learned to finish their food and not throw anything away, which one Facebook post called being part of the "Clean Plate Club." So, how long are leftovers really safe to eat? Most are fine to store in the fridge for a few days. However, they should be stored safely, reheated at an appropriately high temperature, and not be left to sit outside for longer than two hours. 

As for handling frozen items, some boomers apparently make mistakes there as well. One Reddit commenter expressed frustration because their boomer family member "defrosted frozen steaks by placing them on a patio table in the sun in 90 degree weather." It's hard to say why some boomers still cling to this practice, but it may just be a habit they acquired as they were growing up (along with eating raw cookie dough). Defrosting meat and poultry should be done carefully. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, thawing in a refrigerator is probably the best way to go, unless you have the time to meticulously thaw using cold water or the microwave.