South Korean Government Warns People Not to Eat Fried Toothpicks After Trend Goes Viral

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:TheMFDS/X

TheMFDS/X

The South Korean government is asking its citizens not to eat fried toothpicks after the trend went viral in the country.

The toothpicks in question are made of starch — they’re not the wooden ones often used in the U.S. But the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety still warned its citizens that the green hygiene sticks, which resemble mini green curly fries when cooked, have not been verified as safe to eat.

South Korean warns citizens not to eat green toothpicks.TheMFDS/X

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The trend has reportedly become popular after it was seen on mukbang shows on social media, a genre of video in which people show themselves eating excessive amounts of food, or food that is considered strange,Reutersreported.

Videos from these shows include people frying up the little green sticks in frying pans with oil and adding seasoning like powdered cheese to them.

Inanother social media poston the subject, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that the sticks, which can also be made with sweet potato, meet the country’s standards as a hygiene product, but that’s all.

PerReuters,they’re often used in South Korean restaurants to pick up finger foods.

source: people.com