TikTok's Latest Trend ‘Fridgescaping’ May Land You In Hospital. Here’s Why

Until videos of decorating fridges with flowers and using pretty storage to keep supplies by several content creators went viral on TikTok and Instagram “Fridgescaping” was relatively unknown. However, blogger Kathy Perdue first coined the term 13 years ago. In a recent Instagram post, Perdue writes, “Apparently, I coined the term ‘FRIDGESCAPING,’ which has now taken on a life of its own on TikTok and Instagram.”

The real Fridgescaping

Fridgescaping is similar to Tablescaping, where you store your produce in pretty containers, bowls, China etc.

According to Perdue, the originator of the term, explained in her Instagram post, “My post showed how I made the inside of my fridge prettier by using vintage bowls for fruit and organizing it in an attractive but still practical and functional way. I thought, how often do we open the fridge, and why shouldn’t it look nice inside? I like things to be pretty but also functional.”

TikTok’s Fridgescaping

Social media users are known for taking ideas to the next level, and Fridgescaping is no exception. While improvisation is often creative, sometimes it can lead to problems.

Perdue noted, “Today’s social media influencers have taken it quite a bit further into doing themed Fridgescaping, like a play on the popular show Bridgerton and calling it Fridgerton. I won’t be joining in on this way of arranging my fridge but I do admire their creativity and ingenuity.”

Why Fridgescaping may land you in the hospital

While TikTok’s latest trend of Fridgescaping turns refrigerators into a visual art form, it poses significant health risks if not done properly warns Dr. Rakesh Tiwari, Senior Consultant, Paediatrics, at Paras Health, Gurugram.

The trending Fridgescaping practice, which involves displaying food items in decorative containers arranging produce aesthetically, and adding fresh flowers can expose food to contaminants, leading to various diseases.

According to Dr. Tiwari, one major concern with Fridgescaping is the risk of foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which thrive in improperly stored food.

”Placing raw meats uncovered or failing to store dairy products at the correct temperature can result in bacterial growth. Moreover, cross-contamination is a significant risk when items such as meat juices come into contact with fruits and vegetables. These bacteria can cause severe gastrointestinal infections, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in extreme cases, kidney failure,” said Dr. Tiwari.