Viral Accusation of Expired Food on Air Canada Backfires When Date Format Error Revealed

MONTREAL- An incident involving an Air Canada passenger has garnered attention after she claimed she was served an in-flight meal that had expired six months prior while departing from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ). The passenger shared a video on social media highlighting the date label on the meal packaging, which quickly went viral.

The situation arose when the traveler misinterpreted the date format “05/11/2025” as May 11, 2025, rather than November 5, 2025, leading her to believe the meal was outdated. The video received millions of views and sparked criticism toward Air Canada based on her incorrect assumption.

Upon questioning a flight attendant, she was informed that in-flight meals can be frozen and stored for extended periods, which further fueled her concerns despite the meal being properly dated. Reports suggest that the misunderstanding was primarily due to a lack of familiarity with international date conventions rather than actual safety issues with the food served.

This incident highlights the importance of recognizing diverse date formats, especially in international travel, where cultural differences are commonplace.

• Why it matters: The incident underscores the potential for misinterpretations in international settings, which could impact customer perceptions of food safety and airline service quality.
• The latest: Air Canada has not issued a public statement regarding this particular incident, but the situation continues to raise awareness about the implications of date format misunderstandings among travelers.