Progresso Finally Settles the Debate: Can You Eat Soup Straight Out of the Can?

TikTok sensation Alix Earle rose to fame showing off her outfits before going out with her friends and doing “Get Ready With Me” videos that followed her daily makeup routine. To say that she’s not your typical food influencer might be an understatement. But that could be changing, in a very unusual way.

Late last week, Earle posted a video in which she claimed that she likes to eat Progresso chicken noodle soup straight from the can without heating it. “Is that, like, okay to do?” she asked, and fans answered in spades. Her “extreme hot take,” as she called it, sparked a debate among her followers that resulted in more than 3,000 comments.

“Cold soup is one of my irrational fears,” said the top-rated comment. 

“Cannot get beyond this,” said another. 

One follower warned, “No you gotta heat it up to get the bacteria and the botulism out.”

Do You Need to Heat Canned Soup? Progresso Weighs In

The video already has more than 3.2 million views, and canned soup giant Progresso felt the need to chime in with an official word on the matter.

Progresso’s brand experience manager Shannon Heine was quick to release a statement: “Our soups provide high-quality meals without the extra prep work or cooking time needed, so we can definitely get behind this extreme hot take—even if it means no kitchen time required,” she said. “We're happy to settle the debate! Our soups can be consumed cold, but whatever temperature you prefer, we agree with Alix that soup is elite—maybe even the new ‘It Girl’ of the pantry?”

The high-heat canning process ensures that the contents remain safe (just avoid dented cans). However, room-temperature soup may have competition for the “It Girl” title. In the comments, Earle’s followers also mentioned their affinities for unheated SpaghettiOs and canned beans. Whether doing so actually becomes a bonafide TikTok-inspired culinary trend remains to be seen. As for us? We'll stick to hot soup, one of our favorite comfort foods.