Bridgerton-inspired ‘fridgescaping’ sparks well being warning

Bridgerton fans have been warned against designing their fridges in the style of the period drama as food safety expert say it could be bad for their health.

In the latest trend sweeping social media, ‘fridgescaping’ has seen TikTok influencers adorning their fridges with fresh flowers, handmade picture frames, mirrors and other trinkets.

Some users have turned to the Netflix hit series for their fridge design inspiration – filling the space with ceramic dishes for food storage, wicker baskets containing fruit and vegetables and small model statues. 

But the Foods Standards Agency have warned against the new fad, stating that keeping food next to such items could be a health hazard.

They also urged people not to store their food in containers that have been used for other purposes and to keep produce in sealed bags or containers to avoid the risk of cross-contamination with harmful bacteria.

In the latest trend sweeping social media, ‘fridgescaping’ has seen TikTok influencers adorning their fridges with fresh flowers, handmade picture frames, mirrors and other trinkets

Some users have turned to Bridgerton for their fridge design inspiration – filling the space with ceramic dishes for food storage, wicker baskets containing fruit and vegetables and small model statues.

Foods Standards Agency have warned against the new fad, stating that keeping food next to such items could be a health hazard.

Fridges should be kept between zero and five degrees celsius, the watchdog says, and that raw food including meat should be kept covered.

Laura Mountford, a household cleaning guru with more than one million followers on social media, blasted the craze, telling the Telegraph: ‘It’s all well and good being pretty, but if it’s not going to add value to your everyday life, it’s not going to have any longevity.

‘You can get so many acrylic boxes for any type of food and they’re so much easier to properly clean… the fridge is not the place for a wicker basket.’

Advocates of fridgescaping say it serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose. with many claiming that it helps them to finish all of their produce.

But critics have accused the trend of being a ‘timewasting’ trait of the middle classes.

Shabaz Says, a social media influencer who boasts almost four million followers on Instagram and TikTok, posted a video in which he poked fun at fridgescaping.

In the video, he quipped: ‘Hi, you’re poor, you may not understand this, but let me show you fridgescaping.

‘You’re not adding ceramic swans with flowers or jewellery boxes with actual jewellery inside in the fridge… you strive to be this level of unemployed, but you can’t. You can’t afford to stock up your fridge, let alone fridgescape.’

Advocates of fridgescaping say it serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose. with many claiming that it helps them to finish all of their produce

Critics have accused the trend of being a ‘timewasting’ trait of the middle classes

While some kitchen experts believe the trend will remain a largely online phenomenon, others suggest it could become more permanent with newer see-through fridge models on the market.

Tanya Weller, marketing director for digital appliances at Samsung Electronics UK, said: ‘Fridgescaping is a fun, creative trend that enables you to organise everyday food items and decorate an area of your kitchen that isn’t always on show, but with certain models it could become increasingly important.

‘There’s also a practical side in organising your food and lessening food waste… Being organised can not only look good, but it can help you keep track of foods and help plan the family meals.’