Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Health officials in China have issued a warning over a craze for eating deep-fried starch toothpicks which has spread among mainland youngsters.
The trend started in South Korea, where content creators filmed themselves eating this as a snack. It then spread on social media. Videos show people putting the toothpicks in sizzling oil and adding seasoning before eating them.
China’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety wrote on social media platform X: “Starch toothpicks are not edible ... Please do not eat them.”
While some online observers were worried on a food safety basis, many were simply surprised by the fad.
“The food colouring in the toothpicks is indeed unhealthy,” said one.
Another person said: “They look like worms, disgusting.”
A third asked: “Is this really delicious?”
