‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst explains why he ate contestants’ food

General hygiene pretty much goes out the window for players on Survivor. Unless they’re on the receiving end of a special reward trip, contestants do not shower, wash, or brush their teeth for the entirety of their stay on the island. Sooooooo, not exactly ideal conditions for anyone even remotely concerned about germs or other basic elements of cleanliness.

However, most players have greater concerns out on the island and quickly leave behind any worries over sanitary conditions. Which explains why three contestants were simultaneously digging their hands into a giant bowl of peanut butter and chocolate, throwing those hands into their mouths, and then going back for more during Survivor 47‘s trademark auction this week. It was like a double-dipped chip on an exponentially more disgusting scale. And yet Sierra Wright, Caroline Vidmar, and Gabe Ortis had no qualms whatsoever about digging in, slobbering on, and digging in some more.

Not surprising, of course. They were starving. What was surprising, however, was what happened next. After the episode cut to commercial, there was host and showrunner Jeff Probst standing above the bowl of half-devoured peanut butter and chocolate in one of his trademark spots prodding viewers to apply for the show. And then he spoke directly to those viewers in a hushed tone: “Okay, the players are still walking off, but if the auction looks fun, apply to be on Survivor.”

The words were not all that remarkable, but what Probst did with his right pinky finger while saying them certainly was — dipping the finger into the germ-infested peanut butter and then into his mouth. It’s an act the host was asked about on the latest episode of the On Fire With Jeff Probst podcast. “Was that the actual peanut butter that the players who had not showered or washed their hands in two weeks had been eating?” inquires cohost Jay Wolff.

“Thank you for noticing,” Probst responds. “Yes, it was! I did that casting call less than one minute after the players left. That was Jada’s idea. She produces those.”

So what does Probst have to say about digging in utensil-free to the contestant’s communal food? “I just want it be noted,” he says while laughing, “I give everything for this show! I’m willing to risk bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites, or just general illness just to encourage future players to apply to be on Survivor!”

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At this, cohost and Survivor 46 runner-up Charlie Davis can’t help but weigh in. “Yeah, I can vouch for how dirty our hands get,” he says.

“I don’t even want to hear it!” Probst replies. “I don’t even want to be reminded!”

“You dug the grave,” Charlie retorts. “You put yourself there.”

It all gives new meaning to Probst’s favorite Survivor phrase — dig deep.

For more from the host on this week’s episode of Survivor 47, check out the latest episode of On Fire With Jeff Probst.