South Korea's health alarm on viral trend of frying and eating toothpicks

 

A bizarre and potentially dangerous food trend has emerged in South Korea, where some people are deep-frying and eating toothpicks made of starch. The toothpicks, which are usually used as a sanitary product to pick up finger foods, have become a popular snack among some social media users, who post videos of themselves preparing and consuming the fried toothpicks on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

The toothpicks are made from corn or sweet potato starch mixed with sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that gives them a sweet taste. They also have green food coloring added to them to make them look more appealing. The toothpicks are biodegradable and dissolve in water, which makes them environmentally friendly. However, they are not meant to be eaten, as they have not been verified as safe food products by the authorities.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in South Korea has issued a stern warning, urging people to stop eating the fried toothpicks, as they could pose serious health risks. The MFDS said that the toothpicks could cause choking, intestinal obstruction, or damage to the digestive system. Moreover, the sorbitol in the toothpicks could cause diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain if consumed in large amounts. The MFDS also warned that the toothpicks could be contaminated with harmful substances during the manufacturing or frying process.

The viral trend of eating fried toothpicks is believed to be influenced by the popularity of "Mukbang" videos, which show content creators eating excessive amounts of strange or unusual foods. These videos have a large fan base in South Korea, where many people enjoy watching others eat for entertainment or comfort. However, the MFDS has advised people to refrain from following such trends blindly, and to check the safety and quality of the food they consume.