{"id":46309,"date":"2026-04-10T03:24:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T03:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=46309"},"modified":"2026-04-10T03:24:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T03:24:20","slug":"why-people-are-eating-mini-clay-pots-on-tiktok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=46309","title":{"rendered":"Why people are eating mini clay pots on TikTok"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Clay what?!<\/p>\n<p>The latest trend taking over TikTok might leave you scratching your head \u2014 or picking dirt out of your teeth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Viral videos show users filling miniature clay pots with lime juice, dusting them in Taj\u00edn and eating them whole like a crunchy, earthy snack.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Janeth Herrera (@jannherr) shared her dirt cravings on TikTok \u2014 and started a craze for eating tiny clay pots. <span class=\"credit\">TikTok \/ @jannherr<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The trend was sparked by content creator Janeth Herrera (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@jannherr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@jannherr<\/a>), who began craving dirt during her recent pregnancy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s have a late night snack,\u201d the new mom <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@jannherr\/video\/7622509607834963231\">said in one clip<\/a>, popping the tiny clay vessel into her mouth and closing her eyes in delight. \u201cMan, that was so good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her videos, which have racked up millions of views, have divided the internet \u2014 with a number of viewers seriously intrigued and sharing new cravings of their own.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want this so bad,\u201d one user admitted. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cEveryone judging in the comments but I lowkey wanna try it,\u201d confessed another.<\/p>\n<p>Some have been inspired to test it themselves, hunting down miniature clay pots on Amazon \u2014 and driving up prices in the process. But not everyone is sold on the idea.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWere you outta chips?!\u201d one commenter quipped, while another cracked: \u201cBack in my day we used to use these for flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why would anyone eat clay?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/07\/23\/i-spent-4k-consuming-clay-while-pregnant-and-i-still-crave-it\/\">Craving non-food substances like clay<\/a> is known as pica, which is sometimes associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/09\/26\/health\/1-in-3-adults-has-an-iron-deficiency-study-finds-look-for-these-7-symptoms\/\">iron deficiency<\/a> or other nutrient gaps, especially during pregnancy,\u201d explained <a href=\"https:\/\/realnutritionnyc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amy Shapiro<\/a>, a registered dietician and nutritionist.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>TikTok users like @sassysoundsasmr have tried the clay pots \u2014 but many say the taste and texture leave something to be desired. <span class=\"credit\">TikTok \/ @sassysoundsasmr<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While Herrera said her doctor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@jannherr\/video\/7566162261656472862\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">checked her iron levels<\/a> and they came back normal, Shapiro noted that \u201cstandard labs don\u2019t always tell the full story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor example, someone can have \u2018normal\u2019 hemoglobin but still have low iron stores or suboptimal nutrient status that may contribute to cravings,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s why a more comprehensive assessment is often helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/weillcornell.org\/ahermann\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Alison Hermann<\/a>, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, told The Post that the behavior may fall under pica, but it\u2019s not fully clear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a cultural practice called geophagia among some indigenous Mexican, African, and South American communities, where eating mineral-rich dirt or clay is believed to have spiritual or health benefits,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n<p>But there\u2019s a major caveat: \u201cGeophagia can be risky, especially for pregnant women,\u201d Hermann stressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Historically, people have ingested clay believing it contained beneficial minerals, could absorb toxins or even treat intestinal ailments like diarrhea. But Shapiro said modern evidence is slim.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Just because some clay products are labeled \u201cedible\u201d doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re safe to eat, experts warn. <span class=\"credit\">Amazon<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cClay is often marketed as being rich in minerals, but in reality, those minerals are not well absorbed by the body,\u201d she said. \u201cSo while it may technically contain trace elements like calcium or iron, it does not function as a meaningful or reliable source of nutrition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While some forms of clay are used medically for <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5632318\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">short-term digestive issues<\/a>, Shapiro said that\u2019s \u201cvery different\u201d from eating it as a wellness practice. <\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t recommend it as there are safer and more effective ways to support digestion,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Claims that clay can detox the body are also misleading.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClay has binding properties, which is why it\u2019s used in certain industrial and medical applications,\u201d Shapiro said. \u201cHowever, the idea that eating clay can \u201cdetox\u201d the body is not well-supported in humans.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is clay really edible?<\/h2>\n<p>While eating clay may offer few benefits, the risks are plenty \u2014 even when it\u2019s sold as \u201cedible,\u201d like many of the tiny pots trending online.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is \u2018food grade\u2019 clay that has been processed, purified and tested to be safe for human consumption, unlike other forms of clay. However, even if labeled as food grade, it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s FDA regulated,\u201d cautioned Dr. Lauren Shawn, a medical toxicologist and emergency medicine physician at Northwell\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/phelps.northwell.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Phelps Hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many of these products are classified as vitamins or supplements, she explained, so federal regulators don\u2019t have to vet their safety or effectiveness before they reach consumers. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBottom line: You are relying on individual manufacturers to confirm the clay is free of harmful contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, spores, et cetera,\u201d Shawn said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Serious health risks<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to potential toxicity from contamination, eating clay can lead to nutrient deficiencies from impaired absorption and even make medications less effective.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClay is not easily digested,\u201d Shapiro added, \u201cso repeated intake can build up in the GI tract, increasing the risk of impaction or blockage, particularly with low hydration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also the risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/01\/19\/these-3-habits-are-ruining-your-teeth-according-to-a-dentist\/\">chipped teeth<\/a> from munching on ceramics. <\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, for many pregnant women with pica, cravings for non-food substances often subside after giving birth and once nutrient levels return to normal. But that\u2019s not always the case.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHormonal shifts and stress can affect appetite and cravings long after pregnancy,\u201d Shapiro said. \u201cAnd some cravings may be behavioral or sensory-driven, rather than purely nutritional.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Herrera, it doesn\u2019t look like she\u2019s lost her taste for dirt \u2014 though not everyone is a fan of the earthy crunch of her viral clay pots.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt feels like I have glass in my teeth or something,\u201d TikTok user <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@sassysoundsasmr\/video\/7624950647288270094\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@sassysoundsasmr admitted<\/a> after trying the lime- and Taj\u00edn-coated treat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s nasty,\u201d said another TikTokker plainly after immediately spitting it out.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/09\/health\/why-tiktokkers-are-eating-mini-clay-pots-flavored-with-lime-juice\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clay what?! The latest trend taking over TikTok might leave you scratching your head \u2014 or picking dirt out of your teeth.\u00a0 Viral videos show users&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46310,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}