Consumption of the latest social media sensation, milky doughnuts, may predispose people to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases, experts warn.
They noted that the elevated levels of sugar, fat, and calories in the treat can contribute to weight gain and fluctuations in blood sugar levels, adding that the snack has little nutritional and health benefits.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise respectively on the issue, they emphasised the importance of applying caution among individuals with food allergies before embracing social media food trends.
The popularity of this new doughnut recipe, dubbed “milky doughnut” due to the use of condensed milk instead of traditional jam, has surged on social media platforms recently.
The trend, which initially began on TikTok, swiftly spread across various social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), and it was accompanied by numerous videos and images showcasing the snack and its preparation methods.
As the trend gained momentum, numerous online vendors commenced advertising the sale of the product.
However, PUNCH Healthwise observed that these snacks are locally prepared and packaged without the necessary dietary information label.
The experts cautioned against embracing social media food trends indiscriminately, highlighting that the safety of some food trends has not been verified by food scientists.
According to the World Health Organisation, non-communicable diseases, including heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease are collectively responsible for 74 per cent of deaths worldwide.
One of the five major risk factors of NCDs is an unhealthy diet.
Meanwhile, the World Heart Federation says unhealthy diets are high in sugars, saturated and trans-fats, low-fibre foods and high-sugar drinks.
It contributes to noncommunicable diseases and other health problems.
The Global Nutrition Report stated that Nigeria has shown limited progress in achieving diet-related noncommunicable disease targets.
It added that 15.7 per of women and 5.9 per cent of men are living with obesity, while diabetes is estimated to affect 6.8 per cent of women and 7.5 per cent of men.
