Tzuyang says she will shift to moderate mukbang videos

YouTuber Tzuyang said she plans to move toward more moderate mukbang videos after posting footage of herself eating eight packs of instant noodles in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, The Korea Times reported.

The shift comes as YouTube’s rules on eating disorder-related content and monetization have drawn attention around videos that show binge eating or other imitable behaviors, according to The Korea Times.

Tzuyang ate eight packs of instant noodles of different varieties in the recent video, then added rice to the leftover broth, according to The Korea Times.

The Korea Times reported that Tzuyang had previously said she once ate as many as 20 packs of instant noodles in one sitting. In the newer video, the amount was lower than that earlier figure.

"I heard eating a lot is no longer the trend," Tzuyang, the YouTuber, said Sept. 21, according to The Korea Times. "From now on, I’m going to become a YouTuber who eats in moderation."

YouTube expanded its eating disorder-related content guidelines in 2023 to cover eating behaviors that viewers, including minors, could imitate, The Korea Times reported. The platform also said it would not allow monetization for eating disorder-related content showing potentially dangerous actions such as binge eating, hiding or excessively stockpiling food and abusing laxatives.

The Korea Times also cited health concerns tied to instant noodles, reporting that one pack contains about 500 calories depending on the product. The article cited a Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics study that found people who chewed food 40 times ate 12 percent less than those who chewed 15 times.

Tzuyang’s comments point to a broader adjustment among food creators as platform rules and health concerns shape how mukbang videos are made and monetized.