TikTok's food trends have brought us everything from the "Sleepy Girl Mocktail" to the "Salted Snow Chococinno". However, the fried toothpick trend is leaving us with our eyebrows raised all the way to our hairlines. It seems that TikTok users in South Korea have been filming themselves frying and seasoning toothpicks and then munching on them as an unconventional snack.
Why Are People Eating Toothpicks?
Why would TikTok users go wild over the trend of snacking on deep-fried toothpicks? The toothpicks in question aren't made of wood. They're environmentally friendly toothpicks crafted from sweet potato starch or corn starch and dyed green with food coloring. But that doesn't mean they're safe to eat! Reuters reports that the South Korean health ministry has had to issue a warning, asking poeple not to eat the toothpicks. Despite being manufactured from starch, they haven't been tested for human consumption.
What Are South Korean Fried Toothpicks?
TikTokers in South Korea are frying the biodegradable green toothpicks in hot oil and filming them as they curl and puff. They finish the unusual dish by sprinkling the toothpicks with powdered cheese or seasonings before gobbling them up. This is definitely one of those do-not-try-this-at-home situations. If you've got a craving for somethig crunchy and fried, it might be best to stick to chips.
