Foodies may be serious about eating, but apparently they're serious about computers: Fast-food chains, food companies, and food celebrities are raising their profiles on social-networking platform Facebook [1].

Last month, we mentioned that Pizza Hut [2] was the first fast-food chain to launch a Facebook online ordering system [3], so die-hard users never have to leave the site to order dinner. And yesterday, number one fast-food chain McDonald's [4] launched a Facebook fan site of its own to honor the 25th anniversary of its wildly popular Chicken McNuggets [5].

In a push to connect to its younger customers, pizza delivery Papa John's [6] has launched a new promotion: Anyone who becomes a "fan" of the Papa John's page on Facebook will receive an online redemption code for a free medium pizza [7] with any online order.

It isn't just fast-food chains who are promoting themselves on Facebook — other food industry insiders are following suit. Candy company Mars advertised its "Get Some Nuts" [8] campaign for Snickers on Facebook [9], and rumors about Next Food Network Star finalist Lisa Garza [10] spread after she changed her marital status on her Facebook page [11].

I'm surprised to learn that Facebook has become so important in the world of food. Have you been following the food and beverage industry there?

Source [12], Source [13], Source [14], and Source [15]