South Korea raises health concerns over bizarre 'eating toothpicks' trend, Food & Drug Ministry warns

South Korea has once again captured global attention with its latest bizarre trend where social media users are seen deep-frying and eating toothpicks.

In the videos, people are deep frying toothpicks until they puff up and curl, resembling curly fries. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea has issued a warning stating that these starch-based toothpicks are not meant for consumption and people should refrain from eating them. The Ministry added that while the toothpicks, which are made from corn or sweet potato starch and dyed with food colouring, are environmentally friendly and biodegradable, it is unclear if they are safe to consume.

The New York Post reports that the trend seems to draw inspiration from "Mukbang" videos, where hosts eat copious amounts of food on camera. However, unlike typical foods, these toothpicks are crafted from corn or sweet potato starch and colored green with food dye.

According to The New York Post report, health officials are worried that this trend might indicate symptoms of pica, a condition marked by consuming non-food items. They advise the public against joining in, emphasizing that these toothpicks are meant to be biodegradable and dissolve in water, not for consumption.

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