China New Food Waste Law Could Fine Mukbang Content Creators More than 100,000 Yuan
Mukbang which is also known as online eating shows where it might be a thing of the past, but in China where the China President Xi Jin Ping spearheaded a new food waste law to China’s highest legal committee last week when anyone in China who post videos online that promote overeating will face fines up to 100,000 yuan (RM61,790).
In August, Xi JinPing has mentioned that the amount of food wasted on the mainland was shocking and urge people to maintain a sense of crisis about food security. As he wanted to curb the trend amongst internet celebrities who have gained massive follower by eating a large amount of food in a short period of video.
Mukbang videos becomes so popular in South Korea in 2010 and since then it has become a worldwide phenomenon where they are famous mukbang stars like Isaac Osman from Malaysia. As in December last year, there was about 40,000 new videos related to food per day on Douyin, as many of these videos tried to attract viewer by eating in an unimaginable quantity of food.
Under the new law being considered by China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, binge-eating show or competitive eater will be banned and in addition to media organization, content creators that promote over eating, restaurant failed to reduce food wastage can be fined up to 10,000 yuan (RM6,100).
