The Psychology of FOMO: Eating the Trend

Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is a powerful psychological driver, and in 2025, it applies to what we eat just as much as where we travel. Picard’s pistachio chocolate Yule log taps directly into this psyche. By basing their holiday flagship product on the Dubai chocolate bar—a viral sensation that millions watched online but few could taste—they are selling the antidote to culinary FOMO. They are offering the average consumer the chance to finally participate in the global conversation that they have been passively observing on their screens for months.
The product is positioned as a limited-time opportunity to “get the look” and “get the taste.” The marketing subtly implies that this is the defining flavor of the year, and to miss it would be to be out of step with the cultural moment. The €28.99 price tag acts as a relatively low barrier to entry for curing this social anxiety; it is cheaper than a plane ticket to Dubai and easier than trying to hunt down a black-market chocolate bar. It provides an accessible way to close the loop of desire created by social media algorithms.
This psychological engagement transforms the act of grocery shopping into a treasure hunt. Finding the log in the freezer aisle feels like a victory, a tangible connection to the “in crowd.” Serving it at a dinner party is a social signal that the host is connected, relevant, and capable of securing desirable goods. It generates conversation not just about the taste, but about the phenomenon itself, making the dessert the focal point of social interaction.
The flavor profile—pistachio and chocolate—is almost secondary to the social validation it provides. While the dessert is objectively delicious, with its rich mousse and crunchy pastry, the satisfaction it delivers is partly derived from the knowledge that one is consuming the “correct” thing. It validates the time spent scrolling through food videos, proving that the digital hype has a physical reality.
Retailers like Picard are becoming increasingly adept at playing this psychological game. They understand that they are not just selling calories; they are selling participation in a cultural event. This log is the ticket to the show, and for many, that is worth every cent.