TikTok has apparently run out of snack ideas.
The latest craze involves tiny clay pots – the kind you usually stick a succulent in – filled with lime juice, topped with Tajín and eaten whole. It all started with content creator Janeth Herrera (@jannherr), who developed an intense craving for dirt while pregnant and naturally decided to share it with the internet.
“Let’s have a late night snack,” Herrera said in one of her videos before eating a whole one. “Man, that was so good.”
Millions of views later, the internet is heavily divided. Many people admitted they were curious enough to want to try it for themselves, while others were considerably less impressed. “Did you run out of chips?!” asked one commenter. Either way, demand for miniature clay pots on Amazon has apparently increased enough to drive up prices.
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There is actually a medical explanation. Registered dietitian Amy Shapiro shared New York Post that cravings for nonfood substances fall under a condition called pica, which usually points to iron deficiency or other nutritional gaps, and appears most often during pregnancy. Herrera said her iron levels tested fine, but Shapiro cautioned that routine blood work doesn’t always capture the full picture. Hemoglobin can be read as normal while iron stores remain low enough to drive unusual cravings.
Dr. Alison Hermann, a psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, added that eating clay is not solely a TikTok invention. Certain indigenous communities across Mexico, Africa and South America have practiced geophagy for generations, consuming mineral-rich soil for perceived spiritual and physical benefits. The cultural context deserves recognition, but Hermann was aware that the practice still carries serious health risks, especially during pregnancy.
What it actually does to your body
The supposed benefits of clay do not hold up well under scrutiny. Shapiro noted that whatever minerals clay contains, the body absorbs very little of them. The detox angle is also appalling. On the risk side, regular consumption can build up in the digestive tract and cause blockages, and biting down on ceramic can damage your teeth.
The “food label” on many of these products provides less protection than it suggests. Dr. Lauren Shawn, a medical toxicologist at Northwell’s Phelps Hospital, explained that most fall under dietary supplement regulations, meaning the FDA never evaluates them before they reach consumers. The security burden lies solely with the person who made them.
Herrera hasn’t lost her taste for it after pregnancy. Others who tried it were less so. “It feels like I have glass in my teeth,” said one TikToker. Another just spit it out. Probably should have just had chips.
