Popular Douyin streamer Kong Yufeng recently sparked controversy in China by eating pig feed on camera as part of a challenge to live on the cheapest food she could find.

On October 30, Kong Yufeng, aka ‘King Kong Liuke’, posted a controversial video on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, in which she announced a self-imposed challenge to live on the cheapest food she could find for at least one week. The popular streamer told her fans that she had browsed Zhihu, a Chinese forum known for sharing budget-friendly tips, and found pig feed to be the best option. A large bag of pig feed cost only 100 yuan (US$14) and was allegedly high in protein, low in fat, and “healthier than takeaway food,” so she decided to try it in front of her fans. According to Kong, the pig feed contained natural ingredients like soybeans, peanuts, sesame, corn, and added vitamins, but the taste was an acquired one.

“It’s so salty! A bit sour too! I cannot stand it; I need to drink more water,” Kong Yufeng told her viewers as she tried to swallow mouthfuls of pig feed mixed with hot water. Despite the milky oatmeal smell of the dry mix, the prepared version was not as pleasant. But the influencer didn’t let that stop her from telling viewers that she would try to live on it for at least a week.

Although Kong cautioned people not to follow her example unless they were “extremely poor,” her viral video was still met with a lot of criticism online. Many accused her of promoting food not meant for human consumption as a way to save money, while others accused her of doing anything for views.

“During times of famine, pig feed was a valuable resource. But today, with better living standards, why take such a risk?” one person commented.

“How can food designed for pigs meet safety standards for humans?” someone else asked.

One nutrition expert told Shangyou News that following Kong Yufeng’s example could have disastrous consequences because pig feed is not formulated for human digestion and relying on it for sustenance could create deficiencies in essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and iodine.

Kong Yufeng’s video got millions of views on Chinese social media, but all the attention came at a cost for the influencer, as her video was apparently taken down and her account is no longer searchable on Douyin.