2024 was a big year for food news around the world, from fan favourite menu items returning at fast food joints to shrinkflation.
But there have also been plenty of wild and wacky stories taking the food world by storm over the course of the year.
So, let’s take a walk back in time and remember some of the weirdest food stories that we just couldn’t get enough of.
@henrikchristians1 We have chocolate muffin before GTA 6 #fyp #olympics #paris2024 #olympictiktok #olympicvillage #muffins #gta #gta6 ♬ GTA San Andreas Theme (Remake) – Ben Morfitt (SquidPhysics)
The Paris 2024 Olympics were packed to the brim with viral moments from the pommel horse guy to Australian breaker Ray Gun. However, one unique story focused on a love affair between an Olympian and some chocolate muffins.
Henrik Christiansen, a Norwegian swimmer competing at the Paris games, went viral for his hilarious TikTok videos where he declared the muffins were the “single greatest thing about the Olympic Village.”
Christiansen’s love for the muffins inspired fellow athletes and other visitors to the Olympic Village to try out the muffins for themselves to nearly all glowing reviews.
Though the Olympics are over, Christiansen still regularly posts videos about the muffins to this day.
@sofiaqistinee come with me to crumbl cookie sydneys pop up in bondi🩷🍪 #crumbl #crumblcookies #crumblecookiereview #crumble #australia #sydney #sydneyfood #sydneyaustralia #foodie #foodreview #cookies #tastetest ♬ Espresso – On Vacation Version – Sabrina Carpenter
If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen a Crumbl Cookies haul or two. Each week, the US cookie chain reveals a new lineup of delicious sweet treats for customers to get their hands on.
Sadly, for many Crumbl fans worldwide, the chain is currently only available in the US and Canada.
However, fans in Sydney, Australia, were thrilled to discover that Crumbl would be hosting a pop-up in the city earlier this year, but things weren’t quite as they seemed.
Hundreds of people lined up to get their hands on the coveted Crumbl Cookies, but many fans were left disappointed, reporting that the cookies cost a staggering AU$17.50 each (over C$16) and were also stale.
The event organizers, who were not affiliated with Crumbl, released a lengthy response addressing the concerns and claimed to have spent thousands of dollars flying to the US and bringing the cookies back down under.
While the pop-up might have been unsuccessful, the real Crumbl Cookies announced that it would be speeding up its Australian opening.
Plenty of US chains, from Chick-fil-A to Krispy Kreme, expanded their Canadian presence in 2024. Earlier this year, TikTok accounts that appeared to be linked to the US chicken finger chain Raising Cane’s popped up and hinted at an expansion into cities such as Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Halifax.
Sadly, though, the whole affair turned out to be untrue. A spokesperson for Raising Cane’s confirmed to Dished that the videos were fake, saying that while the company is considering opening in global destinations, Canada isn’t one of them just yet.
“We love the energy and excitement Raising Cane’s has garnered across Canada, but don’t currently have plans to open restaurants there,” the spokesperson said.
Here’s hoping for good news in the future!
What has been your favourite foodie story of the year? Let us know in the comments.