How the Food Industry Pays Influencers to Shill Blueberries, Butter, and More

Legal and Regulatory Context

• Some clarify that commodity promotion programs (e.g., dairy) function as a tax with government oversight, not union dues.
• Debate over a high‑profile “food libel” lawsuit: one side stresses the chilling effect and cost of being sued even if you win; another sees it as part of the broader SLAPP problem, not uniquely “big food.”

Influencers, Parasocial Effects, and “Shilling”

• Many are amazed people still trust influencers despite years of sponsored content.
• Parasocial relationships make influencer recommendations feel like advice from friends, blurring genuine opinion vs paid endorsement.
• Users note this is an old pattern (celeb ads, gladiators, etc.) but now more fragmented and ubiquitous.
• Distinction debated between “thought leaders” (ideas they believe in) and “influencers” (often paid shills); others argue we should assume everyone can be biased by money.
• “Shilling” is generally seen as undisclosed paid promotion, though some use it loosely for any strong advocacy.

Health, Antinutrients, and Individual Experience

• Some think shilling blueberries is relatively benign compared to ultra‑processed foods, sugar, or cigarettes.
• Discussion of “antinutrients” and a study where banana enzymes greatly reduce uptake of certain blueberry nutrients; disagreement over how practically important this is.
• Tension between anecdotal self‑experiments (e.g., digestive benefits from berries) and demands for stronger evidence.

Cost, Access, and Quality of Food

• Concern that social campaigns funded by commodity groups may raise prices of otherwise healthy foods.
• Many argue locally grown/wild berries, tomatoes, and strawberries are vastly better than standard supermarket produce; others push back on “store‑bought is garbage” gatekeeping, citing limited access and that frozen/store fruit is “good enough.”

Astroturfing and Stealth Marketing

• Several note covert “grassroots” marketing: coordinated talking points across forums, especially around nutrition, healthcare, finance, and niche products.
• A community moderator reports constant work removing astroturf and banning associated accounts.
• Examples mentioned include sudden waves of moka‑pot posts and heavy almond‑milk promotion, possibly tied to industry incentives and environmental criticism.

Butter, Media, and Meta‑Discussion

• Many say butter hardly needs promotion, though some praise specific premium butters.
• Some see focusing on “shilling blueberries/butter” as missing the larger issue: pervasive marketing of hyper‑processed foods to children.
• Multiple users complain that Bon Appétit’s subscription/login system is confusing or broken.