Why Jeff Probst Ate 'Survivor' Contestants' Food After the Auction

Jeff Probst

Survivor host Jeff Probst likes to tell contestants that they have to “dig deep” to succeed in the game, pushing their bodies beyond what they thought possible. And it turns out, he does the same, including risking foodborne illness to encourage future players to apply.

The famous Survivor auction returned for season 47 in the Wednesday, November 6, episode and Probst, 63, used the occasion to film a casting promo that aired during the episode. In the promo, he dipped his pinky into a bowl of chocolate and peanut butter that three players had just finished digging through themselves.

In the installment of the “On Fire with Jeff Probst” podcast that accompanied the episode, his cohost, Jay Wolff, asked if it was the same bowl that the players — who have not bathed in weeks — had just eaten out of.

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

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It wasn’t the most hygienic moment in the show’s history, but Probst didn’t care. As he explained, he’s willing to risk it all to bring the next great player to Fiji.

“I just want it to be noted, I give everything for this show,” he said. “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.”

He wasn’t exaggerating. Survivor 46 runner-up Charlie Davis joins Probst and Wolff each episode to give the player’s perspective and he confirmed exactly how unsanitary Probst’s promo was.

“Yeah, I can vouch for how dirty our hands get,” he said, before Probst cut him off.

“I don’t even want to hear it. I don’t even want to be reminded!” he replied.

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The moment, as Probst indicated, represented the perfect time to call for new players. The Survivor auction has become a staple on the series, arising every few seasons as players bid on some tempting food items they’ve been denied while on the island.

The auction made its new era debut in Survivor 45 with an added twist, as the show sent players into the jungle to find money they could use to bid. The same idea returned this season, along with the twist that the player with the most money remaining at the end of the auction would lose their vote at the next tribal council.

Sam was the unlucky bidder, ending the auction with the most money remaining and losing his vote. The tribe voted out his ally, Sierra, who tied with Sam in the first round of voting.

Survivor 47 airs on CBS Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET. It is also available to stream next day on Paramount+.