TikTok food trends are specific food recipes and food-related fads on the social media platform TikTok.[1] This content amassed popularity in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, given that many were inclined to eat at home while simultaneously turning to social media as a form of entertainment.[1] While some TikTok users share their diets and recipes, others expand their brand or image on TikTok through step-by-step videos of easy and popular recipes.[2] Users often refer to food-related content as "FoodTok."[1]
The hashtags #TikTokFood and #FoodTok are used to identify food-related content and have been viewed 40.2 billion and 9.7 billion times respectively since the app's creation, according to the company. Food trends have had profound societal impacts on their millions of viewers.[2] There has been an increase in popularity of cooking amongst youth, conversations regarding body image, use of marketing of food products on social media, and food shortages due to the mass trends that take place on the app.[3][4][5] Certain TikTok content creators such as Eitan Bernath, Jeron Combs, and Emily Mariko have achieved fame through the trendiness of their recipes. These individuals and those within their TikTok community have developed notable recipes, such as the leftover salmon bowl, baked feta cheese pasta, and pesto eggs.[6][7][8]