There are plenty of hits and more than a few misses in the world of TikTok food trends but this one takes the cake. We feel we have a journalistic responsibility to share the official South Korean health ministry’s statement warning folks to *checks notes* not eat toothpicks.

Filing this one under ‘things we can’t believe we have to tell people.’

If you’re not up to speed on the latest chapter of the strange world of Mukbang, put down that toothpick and read this before you go any further.

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Mukbang, which roughly translates to ‘eating show’ in Korean, is an online broadcast in which a host – usually a woman – consumes vast quantities of food while interacting with the audience for reasons which shall remain unstated.

South Korean health officials are asking people not to deep fry and eat starch toothpicks, after the method, which turns the toothpicks into crunchy chips, went viral on social media.

녹말 이쑤시개 튀김? 안될 말입니다!#녹말이쑤시개 는 #위생용품 으로 식품이 아닙니다!
식품과는 제조환경, 안전관리 기준이 다릅니다.
이쑤시개는 용도에 맞게 치아에 양보하세요!(제발..🙏) pic.twitter.com/tLA5Gy8Jqi

— 식품의약품안전처 (@TheMFDS) January 26, 2024

In videos posted to TikTok and Instagram, creators are putting the toothpicks in hot oil until they puff up, and then adding seasonings before consuming them.

It’s giving forbidden Tide pods circa 2018.

And while the logic is technically sound – prawn crackers are basically just cornstarch and prawn stock – it is unclear whether the starch toothpicks are safe for consumption. Because they are toothpicks.

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