In South Korea, videos of people consuming deep-fried toothpicks shaped like curly fries went viral on social media, sparking an odd culinary craze. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stepped in after these starch-based edible picks became popular.
The Ministry issued a strong warning against eating fried toothpicks in a social media post, stressing that their safety had not been investigated.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday that “their safety as food has not been verified.” “Please do not eat (them).”
Despite the warnings, videos of people enjoying the crispy snacks, often coated with cheese powder, continued to attract attention.
#녹말이쑤시개 먹는 제품이 아닙니다! ❌
녹말이쑤시개는 #위생용품 입니다!
위생용품은 성분·제조방법·용도에 대한 기준·규격에 따라 안전성이 관리되고 있으나 #식품으로서 안전성은 검증된 바 없습니다. #섭취하지마세요! ❌ pic.twitter.com/OPNMDc1ofq— 식품의약품안전처 (@TheMFDS) January 24, 2024
The trend’s popularity was driven by its novelty and environmental consciousness. Starch toothpicks, widely used in South Korea, are biodegradable, appealing to eco-friendly consumers.
However, concerns about potential contaminants and unknown additives raised questions about the safety of these trendy snacks.
It went on to say that videos of the sanitary product, toothpicks, being deep-fried in oil and consumed were going viral.
The toothpicks, which are made from corn or sweet potato starch and are thought to be biodegradable and environmentally friendly, are colored green using food coloring.
They can also be used to pick up finger foods. In South Korea, they are frequently used in restaurants.
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