In today’s digital age, a simple misunderstanding can snowball into a viral sensation, prompting debates, laughs, and learning moments across the world. Such was the case when a TikTok video went viral, claiming that a passenger was served expired food on an Air Canada flight. What began as an innocent complaint about in-flight catering quickly spiraled into a worldwide discussion, sparking thousands of reactions, memes, and even cultural debates. But what appeared to be an error in the airline’s meal quality turned out to be something much simpler—and much funnier—than initially thought. The root cause of this controversy wasn’t a neglected food safety protocol but rather a confusion around international date formats. The viral debate was a reminder that even in our highly connected world, small details like date formats can still lead to massive misunderstandings.

The Expired Meal Controversy: A TikTok Traveler’s Claim That Sparked a Global Debate

It all began when Kerry Schwartz, a TikTok user, posted a video on November 13, 2025, during her Air Canada flight. In the video, she revealed a meal package with printed dates on it: “06 11 25” and “05/11/2025”. To her, these dates read as June 11, 2025, and May 11, 2025—making it appear that the beef she was served was six months expired. Shocked by this discovery, Kerry captioned her post with a dramatic, “When you’re flying Air Canada on Nov 2025… and realize after finishing your meal that the beef they served expired 6 months ago. Pray for me.”

This caption, paired with the video, caught the attention of thousands of viewers. Some were horrified by the idea that an airline would serve expired food, while others began questioning the food’s storage and expiration practices. What started as a complaint about airline meals quickly turned into a topic of global conversation, with many viewers calling for an explanation from Air Canada.

Ever wondered what’s really in an Air Canada meal? Watch this video to see the surprising twist behind a typical in-flight meal experience! 

The Initial Reaction: How the Claim of an Expired Meal Fueled Online Outrage

As Kerry’s video spread across social media, the initial reaction was one of outrage. Many commenters voiced concerns about food safety and questioned how a reputable airline could serve expired meals. Some demanded that flight attendants address the issue, while others worried about the quality of food being served at 35,000 feet. The situation seemed straightforward: an airline had served an expired meal, and the passenger was rightfully calling them out. However, as the video continued to circulate, many viewers started asking one critical question: was the meal really expired, or was there more to the story?

The Twist: How Commenters Unraveled the Date Mix-Up and Exposed the Real Issue

As the conversation around the video grew, something important emerged: a few commenters pointed out that the dates on the package might not be what they seemed. Instead of being a U.S. style date (MM/DD/YYYY), the date format used in the video was likely the day-month-year (DD/MM/YYYY) format, which is standard in most parts of the world, including Canada. When viewed from this perspective, the dates on the package made much more sense. The “06 11 25” and “05/11/2025” dates were actually the 5th and 6th of November 2025—not June and May as originally assumed by Kerry.

This realization turned the whole debate on its head. What had seemed like a serious food safety issue was now simply a misunderstanding caused by the different date formats used in the U.S. and many other countries. Commenters quickly flooded the post with this new interpretation, and the narrative shifted from outrage to humor.

Date Formats: Why The Misunderstanding Was Rooted in American and International Differences

The confusion surrounding the expired meal wasn’t just a mix-up between the dates; it was a reflection of a long-standing cultural difference between the U.S. and the rest of the world. While most countries use the day-month-year format (DD/MM/YYYY), the U.S. uniquely sticks with the month-day-year format (MM/DD/YYYY). This difference is not only common in everyday life but also deeply ingrained in systems such as government documentation, business records, and—yes—airline food packaging.

For Americans, the notion of the day appearing before the month may seem logical, but for the rest of the world, it’s counterintuitive. This divergence in date formats has often puzzled travelers, and it’s the very reason why many international observers struggle to understand the U.S.’s approach. For Kerry Schwartz, who was clearly unfamiliar with the day-month-year system, this small detail led to a mix-up that ultimately sparked a global viral event.

The Global Roast: How the Internet Reacted to the Mistaken Meal Complaint

Once the misunderstanding about the dates was clarified, the tone of the conversation shifted dramatically. What started as a serious complaint about food safety turned into a global roast of the TikTok traveler. Many users from outside the U.S. jumped in with exasperated amusement, commenting on how the misunderstanding was simply the result of the American way of reading dates.

One comment read: “Well, too bad you didn’t realize the rest of the world uses the day/month/year format!!! LOL.” Others teased Americans for their tendency to misunderstand basic international practices, saying things like, “So that’s why they write ‘DO NOT DRINK’ on cleaning products in the U.S.”

The incident quickly became a meme-filled spectacle, with users from all corners of the globe having fun with the mix-up. It wasn’t long before comparisons were drawn to other American quirks, with jokes about the U.S. driving on the right side of the road, their preference for Fahrenheit over Celsius, and even the notorious banning of Kinder Surprise Eggs in the U.S. A few users even jokingly suggested that the entire situation should be part of mandatory pre-flight orientation for American travelers.

The U.S. Date Format Debate: Why It Continues to Puzzle the World

The debate about the U.S. date format isn’t a new one. In fact, it has been a topic of conversation for years, with many wondering why the U.S. has steadfastly stuck with its system when nearly every other country in the world uses the day-month-year format. The reasoning behind the American preference remains unclear, with some attributing it to historical printing practices, while others suggest that it’s a result of early business conventions.

Despite the wide adoption of the day-month-year system worldwide, the U.S. continues to use the month-first format, which often leads to confusion in international settings. It’s an issue that travelers frequently face when navigating foreign countries or dealing with international companies. The Air Canada meal misunderstanding is just one example of how something as seemingly small as date formats can lead to major confusion in today’s globalized world.

Curious why Americans write dates in the month-day-year format? This video dives into the history and reasons behind this quirky convention—prepare to be surprised! 

Lesson Learned: How the Viral Meal Debate Became a Lesson in International Awareness

So, what’s the takeaway from this viral meal debate? At its core, this misunderstanding highlights the importance of international awareness when traveling. Simple cultural differences—like date formats—can lead to significant confusion, especially when you’re traveling or engaging with people from other countries. In an increasingly connected world, it’s important to be mindful of these differences and approach them with patience and understanding.

The viral video also serves as a reminder of how quickly misunderstandings can spiral into global phenomena. What started as an innocent complaint about an expired meal quickly became a worldwide event, showcasing the power of social media to amplify even the smallest details.