The “super food” raises controversy about the reason for Haaland’s brilliance

The Norwegian striker for Manchester City, Erling Haaland, sparked widespread discussion about the consumption of unpasteurized milk, after he revealed details of his routine diet in the first video on his new YouTube channel.

The first video published on the new official channel for Haaland (25 years old) received more than five million views, but it sparked a broader controversy than just a review of “a day in the life of a professional football player.”

In the episode in which Haaland discussed his daily routine and his enjoyment of cooking and eating “Tomahawk” steaks, he also revealed his ongoing habit of drinking raw, unpasteurized milk, a substance that is not sold in supermarkets even though its sale is legal in England.

The “superfood” motive and official warnings

Haaland was filmed visiting a farm in Cheshire to collect his supply of raw milk, which he described as a “superfood” that he believes is “good for the stomach, skin, bones and muscles”, stressing that this is “the reason he drinks it”.

Sources close to the striker told BBC Sport that Haaland drinks a cup every morning and another after training, a habit that has been part of his life for a long time.

Although Haaland believes in its benefits as a “life choice” that is not exclusively aimed at sports nutrition, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a clear warning, stating: “Raw milk may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning,” advising groups with weak immune systems, including the elderly, pregnant women, and children, to avoid consuming it.

For her part, Natasha Smith, Deputy Director of Policy at… FSAthat the bacteria causing poisoning may be present in unheated (unpasteurized) milk, indicating that control is tight on producers to support “consumer choice,” but stressing the need for groups at risk to avoid it.