An influencer in China consumed pig feed costing just 3 yuan (RM1.84 or US$0.40) a day to save money, asserting it is healthier than takeaway food, which has sparked widespread health concerns.
Kong Yufeng, known online as “King Kong Liuke”, is a popular handicraft influencer on Douyin, boasting 2.8 million followers. She is a graduate of one of China’s top art schools, the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.
On Oct 30, Kong posted a video in which she expressed her intention to live on as little money as possible, although she did not disclose her reasons for this challenge. She adopted the top-ranked money-saving suggestion from Zhihu, a popular Chinese forum: eating pig feed.
Kong spent 100 yuan (RM61 or US$14) on a bag of pig feed, which she described as having a “milky oatmeal smell” upon opening. The video revealed that the pig feed contains ingredients such as soybeans, peanuts, sesame, corn, and added vitamins.
She stated: “It’s all high-protein, low-fat, and completely natural. Isn’t this healthier than takeaway food?”
Kong explained that 100g of pig feed per meal cost her only 3 yuan a day. She then mixed some of the pig feed with warm water and consumed it all at once.
However, the unpleasant taste caused her to grimace, prompting her to exclaim: “It’s so salty! A bit sour too! I cannot stand it; I need to drink more water.”
After finishing the remaining pig feed, she announced her plan to adhere to this diet for a week to determine if it was feasible to maintain her health solely on pig feed and water.
Kong also urged her followers against imitating her behaviour, stating: “do not do this unless you’re extremely poor.”
Her stunt quickly garnered attention on mainland social media, drawing 6.3 million views on Weibo.
One online observer remarked: “She is ridiculous. How can food meant for pigs meet food safety standards for humans?”
Another commented: “During times of famine, pig feed would have been valuable nourishment. But in today’s world of high living standards, why seek out trouble?”
A pig feed company employee informed Shangyou News that while the feed is not harmful, it is not digestible by humans and therefore not intended for people.
One Internet user criticised Kong’s actions: “As a popular influencer, her behaviour can influence others. What if a child tries to imitate her? The consequences could be dire.”The Post reached out to Kong for comment, but no response had been received at the time of writing. Meanwhile, her video has been removed from mainland social media platforms, and her account is no longer searchable. – South China Morning Post
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