People started eating oats at least 30,000 years ago.
Evidence suggests that the earliest consumption of oats dates back over 30,000 years. At this time, wild oats were likely ground and consumed as a porridgelike oatmeal. While ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans recognized oats as edible, they were primarily utilized as animal feed or consumed by the poorer segments of society. The widespread adoption of oats as a staple human food source came later in history.
