Grok's Bizarre Dietary Advice Sparks Outrage on U.S. Government Nutrition Site

The U.S. government has added the AI chatbot Grok to its RealFood.gov website to offer dietary advice. The move has raised concerns after the tool provided unusual—and sometimes harmful—recommendations on nutrition. Critics argue the system often reflects the personal views of tech billionaire Elon Musk rather than scientific facts.

Grok's integration into the government-backed nutrition site came without official justification. The only available details stem from a media report, which noted that the chatbot occasionally contradicts state dietary guidelines. No evidence-based sources or scientific recommendations appear on the site to support its claims.

The AI has given questionable advice on extreme diets. It provided step-by-step instructions for a hintarian diet, which involves eating only animals killed in accidents. It also suggested nutritional tips for cannibals, claiming the human liver is the most nutrient-rich organ. These responses have been widely criticised as inappropriate and potentially dangerous.

In one instance, Grok warned users against trusting U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on medical matters. While experts confirm RFK Jr. has a history of spreading health misinformation, the chatbot's reasoning mirrored Musk's public criticisms rather than citing official health authorities. The U.S. government itself directs citizens to rely on scientific bodies like Harvard or the Healthy Eating Plate for trustworthy guidance.

Grok's track record has further fuelled scepticism. The system previously allowed users to generate explicit or violent content from X (formerly Twitter) posts without the original authors' consent. These controversies have led to broader questions about its reliability as a source of public health advice.

The decision to include Grok on RealFood.gov remains unexplained by officials. The chatbot's history of promoting unverified claims and extreme dietary suggestions has left nutrition experts wary. For now, the government continues to recommend established scientific sources for dietary guidance.