Don't eat fried toothpicks, South Korea warns

Fried green toothpicks have gone viral, prompting South Korean health officials to intervene. Photo: B_CHUCHU_/HEE_2458 VIA X/REUTERS

South Korea's food authority and drug safety ministry have asked the public not to eat fried toothpicks following viral videos on social media promoting the unusual practice.

Official warning about which has since been reported on major news channels, comes after a series of short films showing different ways to make toothpicks using green cornstarch surfaced on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

The footage shows toothpicks. they're fried in pans, topped with cheese powder, doused in sauce and mixed into instant noodles, with some posts getting over 4 million views.

Although the toothpicks are made from sweet potato or cornstarch and are colored green. on food colorings, the ministry warned that their safety as a food product had not been verified.

“Please don't eat (them),” said a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Although toothpicks made from natural ingredients, authorities care about their safety. Photo: B_CHUCHU_/HEE_2458 VIA X/REUTERS

Officials described the biodegradable products as hygiene products similar to cups and straws and not subject to the same safety rules as toothpicks. food.

Potential health risks don't seem to have deterred content creators.

“They're super crunchy,” one TikTok user said after frying the toothpicks.

Another online comment read: “I feel like I shouldn't eat them. but they look delicious, the Straits Times reported.

Korean authorities have previously warned about the «mukbang» social media trend, in which people eat unusual dishes or eat excessive amounts of food.

government has previously expressed concern that such videos may contribute to obesity.