The “Food Bloggers” Phenomenon: A Danger to Societies and a Promotion of Harmful Foods

Iraqi nutrition and public health expert Sahar Al-Mohammedi has warned about the growing danger posed by the spread of “food bloggers” and their influence on societal eating behaviors.

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Recently, the phenomenon of “food bloggers” has become widespread. This group of bloggers shares their cooking methods or restaurant experiences with their followers on social media.

Al-Mohammedi told “Erem News” that “food industry producers and restaurant owners are now exploiting social media to promote unhealthy types of foods, which contribute to rising obesity rates in the country by encouraging consumers to adopt unhealthy diets.”

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She added that “the vast majority of cooking shows that used to be broadcast focused primarily on healthy eating, offering guidance to the community to encourage them to follow diets that reduce sugars and fats, while also serving as a guide and motivation to moderate eating and avoid excess.”

The expert continued, saying, “But today we see the opposite with the spread of numerous bloggers on social media who drive communities to overeat by showcasing rich dishes in excessive quantities, as well as encouraging desserts that cause obesity and other health damages when consumed in excess. All of this is a form of commerce at the expense of public health in society.”

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She expressed her astonishment at how “young bloggers and fashionistas working in advertising promote this type and quantity of food, while they themselves follow strict diets and take care of their bodies due to the nature of their work. This is a form of deception towards the audience.”

The expert pointed to “Hulwah Dubaï,” a popular example in Iraq over the past few days, which has become a trend on social media. It is a type of dessert consisting of hard chocolate slices filled with kunafa mixed with ground pistachios.

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She explained that this type of dessert contains approximately 760 calories, requiring over 7 kilometers of walking to burn off.”

She also emphasized that “food bloggers” now wield significant influence over their followers, and the major problem is that the vast majority of them lack knowledge about health and diets, leading them to promote unhealthy foods, thereby becoming a threat to society.”