Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker and Norway international, is reshaping eating habits in his home country, with a surge in carrot sales that officials are attributing directly to him. The 26-year-old, known for his strict lifestyle and constant focus on performance, regularly eats carrots as his snack of choice, and thousands of young Norwegians have started copying him.
Haaland is rarely seen without the orange vegetable in his hand, whatever he is doing, except on a football pitch. What began as a personal habit has turned into a wider social trend among young people in Norway, particularly since this year's World Cup, when the striker's food choices drew public attention.
A 'Haaland effect' on sales
Norway's Ministry of Agriculture has highlighted the rise in carrot consumption, saying producers are describing a "Haaland effect" on sales as a result of the enthusiasm generated by the World Cup. The increase has been especially notable for bunched carrots, the kind sold with their green tops still attached.
Haaland has previously explained why vegetables matter so much to him. He said he grew up surrounded by fields and farms, where he saw how vegetables were grown and witnessed the work farmers put in, which he said made him more conscious of the quality of his diet.
From the pitch to the dinner table
The striker's influence has spread well beyond football, reaching into the everyday eating habits of Norwegian youth. In the process, he is also giving a boost to farmers in his home country by driving up demand for carrots, particularly the bunched variety.
Haaland plays for Manchester City in the English Premier League, where he has established himself as one of the world's most prolific goalscorers, and is a key figure for the Norway national team. His profile rose further during this year's World Cup, which appears to have accelerated interest in his eating habits among fans back home.
