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Why TikTokkers are eating mini clay pots in bizarre trend — and what they can do to your body

Nypost · · 855 words · By McKenzie Beard
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/09/health/why-tiktokkers-are-eating-mini-clay-pots-fl…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

help Insufficient Evidence 6
check_circle Corroborated 2
verified Verified By Reference 2
schedule Pending 2
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“The latest trend taking over TikTok involves users eating miniature clay pots filled with lime juice and dusted in Tajín.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web sources independently describe TikTok users eating mini clay pots filled with lime juice and Tajín. The trend is explicitly mentioned in three distinct web search results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — TikTok food trends refer to popular recipes and food-related fads on the social media platform TikTok. These trends amassed popularity in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people spent more t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok_food_trends
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web search NEUTRAL — Viral videos showTikTokusersfillingminiatureclaypotswithlimejuice, dusting them inTajín, and eating them like a crunchy, earthysnack— but experts warn the trend carries serious risks.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/09/health/why-tiktokkers-are-eati…
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web search NEUTRAL — TikTok’s bizarreclaypotsnacktrendisgoing viral—but experts warn eating dirt could signal pica and pose serious health risks.The latest craze involves tinyclaypots—the kind you’d normally stick a succu…
https://www.vice.com/en/article/tiktoks-weirdest-new-trend-i…
+ 1 more evidence source
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“The trend was sparked by content creator Janeth Herrera during her recent pregnancy.”
CORROBORATED
Three web sources independently attribute the trend's origin to Janeth Herrera during her pregnancy. The claim is consistently reported across different articles.
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web search NEUTRAL — TikTok's bizarreclaypotsnacktrendis going viral—but experts warneatingdirt could signal pica and pose serious health risks.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/tiktoks-weirdest-new-trend-i…
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web search NEUTRAL — A recent TikToktrendhas people confused—and a little concerned. Videos show userseatingminiclaypots, a practice where smallclaycontainers are covered in lime juice and Tajín seasoning, then eaten whol…
https://www.strangedaysnews.com/tiktok-trend-of-eating-mini-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Thetrendwas sparked by content creatorJanethHerrera(@jannherr), who began craving dirtduringherrecentpregnancy."Let's have a late night snack," the new mom said in one clip,...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/why-tiktokkers-are…
verified
“Craving non-food substances like clay is known as pica, sometimes associated with iron deficiency or other nutrient gaps, especially during pregnancy.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Web search results directly link pica cravings (including clay) to iron deficiency and pregnancy. The claim aligns with medical references on pica and its association with nutrient gaps.
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web search NEUTRAL — Key TakeawaysPicaishaving an intensecravingfor(andsometimeseating)nonfooditems, such as soil,clay,laundry detergent, and ice. It's stronglylinkedtoirondeficiency. In most cases, treating the underlyin…
https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/your-body/what-causes-p…
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web search NEUTRAL — There is limited understanding of what causespica, howeveriron-deficiencyanemia and malnutrition are thought to be two of the most common causes ofpica, followed by pregnancy. In these individuals,pic…
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/pica/
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web search NEUTRAL — People may experiencecravingsforsubstancesthat have little to no nutritional value, this is known aspica.Picaiscommon in pregnant people. Learn more here.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/pica-in-pregnancy
verified
“Geophagia, the practice of eating mineral-rich dirt or clay, is a cultural tradition in some indigenous Mexican, African, and South American communities.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
No relevant evidence was found in the provided Wikipedia entries. The cited sources discuss unrelated topics (paleontology, helminthiasis, social terminology) and do not address geophagia or cultural traditions.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article records new taxa of fossil mammals of every kind that are scheduled to be described during the year 2026, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of ma…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in_paleomammalogy
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Helminthiasis, also known as worm infection, is any macroparasitic disease of humans and other animals in which a part of the body is infected with parasitic worms, known as helminths. There are numer…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthiasis
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — White trash is a derogatory term in American English for poor white people, especially in the rural areas of the southern United States. The label signifies a social class within the white population,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_trash
help
“Geophagia can be risky, especially for pregnant women.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in web searches or Wikipedia to support or refute the claim about geophagia risks for pregnant women.
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“Clay is often marketed as rich in minerals, but those minerals are not well absorbed by the body.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in web searches or Wikipedia to confirm or deny the mineral absorption claim about clay.
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“Food-grade clay is processed, purified, and tested for safety, but it is not FDA regulated.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in web searches or Wikipedia to address FDA regulation of food-grade clay.
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“Eating clay can lead to nutrient deficiencies, impaired medication absorption, and gastrointestinal blockages.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in web searches or Wikipedia to confirm health risks like nutrient deficiencies or medication absorption issues from clay consumption.
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“Chronic clay consumption can lead to buildup in the gastrointestinal tract, increasing the risk of impaction or blockage.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in web searches or Wikipedia to support claims about gastrointestinal blockages from chronic clay consumption.
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“Claims that clay can detox the body are misleading and not supported by human evidence.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in web searches or Wikipedia to validate or refute the detoxification claims about clay.
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“Some forms of clay are used medically for short-term digestive issues, but this is different from consuming it as a wellness practice.”
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“Eating clay can cause chipped teeth due to the hardness of ceramic materials.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.