Erling Haaland's unconventional diet has sparked a remarkable surge in carrot sales across Norway. According to L'Equipe, the local agricultural directorate officially noted this phenomenon in their weekly report in early August.
Farmers and suppliers have directly linked the booming interest in carrot bunches to the 'Haaland effect', which began during the 2026 World Cup and has continued into September. Norwegian children are now clamouring for 'Haaland sweets' — that’s what they call raw root vegetables instead of sugary treats.
The striker turned raw carrot munching into his go-to snack several years ago, and clips have surfaced since 2022 showing him crunching on them while driving to training or holding one in his teeth while signing autographs.
Growing up near farms in Bryne, Erling has always appreciated natural, local produce. He has completely cut out added sugar and substitutes unhealthy snacks with crisp veggies.
The excitement was further fuelled by a national advertisement from the wholesale company Bama, launched during the World Cup. In the ad, Haaland drives a truck while munching carrots alongside skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The success of the Norwegian national team, which sensationally reached the quarter-finals thanks to seven goals from the forward in four matches, only intensified public enthusiasm.
Overall, the Norwegian's diet may seem intimidating to an average person, with around 6,000 calories a day focused on meat, offal, raw honey, and vegetables. However, parents and farmers are thrilled about the 'carrot trend', deeming it a rare example of a superstar positively influencing the younger generation.
Generally speaking, if we consider the same science, regular consumption of carrots has a beneficial effect on vision; not sure if that's true, though.)