Clay what?!
The latest trend taking over TikTok might leave you scratching your head — or picking dirt out of your teeth.
Viral videos show users filling miniature clay pots with lime juice, dusting them in Tajín and eating them whole like a crunchy, earthy snack.
The trend was sparked by content creator Janeth Herrera (@jannherr), who began craving dirt during her recent pregnancy.
“Let’s have a late night snack,” the new mom said in one clip, popping the tiny clay vessel into her mouth and closing her eyes in delight. “Man, that was so good.”
Her videos, which have racked up millions of views, have divided the internet — with a number of viewers seriously intrigued and sharing new cravings of their own.
“I want this so bad,” one user admitted.
“Everyone judging in the comments but I lowkey wanna try it,” confessed another.
Some have been inspired to test it themselves, hunting down miniature clay pots on Amazon — and driving up prices in the process. But not everyone is sold on the idea.
“Were you outta chips?!” one commenter quipped, while another cracked: “Back in my day we used to use these for flowers.”
Why would anyone eat clay?
“Craving non-food substances like clay is known as pica, which is sometimes associated with iron deficiency or other nutrient gaps, especially during pregnancy,” explained Amy Shapiro, a registered dietician and nutritionist.
While Herrera said her doctor checked her iron levels and they came back normal, Shapiro noted that “standard labs don’t always tell the full story.”
“For example, someone can have ‘normal’ hemoglobin but still have low iron stores or suboptimal nutrient status that may contribute to cravings,” she said. “That’s why a more comprehensive assessment is often helpful.”
Dr. Alison Hermann, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, told The Post that the behavior may fall under pica, but it’s not fully clear.
“There 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,” she explained.
But there’s a major caveat: “Geophagia can be risky, especially for pregnant women,” Hermann stressed.
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.
“Clay is often marketed as being rich in minerals, but in reality, those minerals are not well absorbed by the body,” she said. “So while it may technically contain trace elements like calcium or iron, it does not function as a meaningful or reliable source of nutrition.”
While some forms of clay are used medically for short-term digestive issues, Shapiro said that’s “very different” from eating it as a wellness practice.
“I don’t recommend it as there are safer and more effective ways to support digestion,” she added.
Claims that clay can detox the body are also misleading.
“Clay has binding properties, which is why it’s used in certain industrial and medical applications,” Shapiro said. “However, the idea that eating clay can “detox” the body is not well-supported in humans.”
Is clay really edible?
While eating clay may offer few benefits, the risks are plenty — even when it’s sold as “edible,” like many of the tiny pots trending online.
“There is ‘food grade’ 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’t mean it’s FDA regulated,” cautioned Dr. Lauren Shawn, a medical toxicologist and emergency medicine physician at Northwell’s Phelps Hospital.
Many of these products are classified as vitamins or supplements, she explained, so federal regulators don’t have to vet their safety or effectiveness before they reach consumers.
“Bottom line: You are relying on individual manufacturers to confirm the clay is free of harmful contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, spores, et cetera,” Shawn said.
Serious health risks
In addition to potential toxicity from contamination, eating clay can lead to nutrient deficiencies from impaired absorption and even make medications less effective.
“Clay is not easily digested,” Shapiro added, “so repeated intake can build up in the GI tract, increasing the risk of impaction or blockage, particularly with low hydration.”
There’s also the risk of chipped teeth from munching on ceramics.
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’s not always the case.
“Hormonal shifts and stress can affect appetite and cravings long after pregnancy,” Shapiro said. “And some cravings may be behavioral or sensory-driven, rather than purely nutritional.”
For Herrera, it doesn’t look like she’s lost her taste for dirt — though not everyone is a fan of the earthy crunch of her viral clay pots.
“It feels like I have glass in my teeth or something,” TikTok user @sassysoundsasmr admitted after trying the lime- and Tajín-coated treat.
“That’s nasty,” said another TikTokker plainly after immediately spitting it out.
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