Photo: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP / Getty Images
For: The opinion Posted Jan 24, 2023, 23:57 pm EST
authorities of Indonesia have warned that popular snacks made with liquid hydrogen could be causing stomach burns among those who consume them
According to the Indonesian outlet Kompas.com, the authorities indicate that, apparently, several children in that country have suffered stomach burnsor after consuming a popular street snack that contains liquid nitrogen called “chiki ngebul” or “dragon’s breath”.
The Indonesian Association of Pediatrics (IDAI) has received more than 20 reports related to cases of allegedly intoxicated children by foods smoked with liquid nitrogen. In fact, there was a boy in Bekasi, West Java, who had to undergo gastric surgery after candy ripped a two-centimeter hole in his stomach.
children suffered food poisoning, severe stomach pains and skin burnsthe director general of the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, told Kompas.
The president of IDAI’s Gastro-Hepatology Coordination Unit, Dr. Muzal Kadim, said that until now, IDAI has not recommended to the Ministry of Health that it prohibit the use of liquid nitrogen in food, including chiki ngebul. He also said that liquid nitrogen, if properly managed and at sufficient levels, is allowed in food.
The appetizer in question is an assortment of rainbow colored candies covered in a cloud of liquid nitrogen which makes the person who eats them exhale that mist, like a dragon. However, health experts warn that if the snack is consumed before the liquid nitrogen has evaporated, it is a risk. very real risk of burns and punctures intestinal.
In 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Issued a Safety Alert on “Dragon’s Breath” Food Products prepared with liquid nitrogen.
“It has been produced injuries from handling or eating products prepared by adding liquid nitrogen immediately before consumption, even after the liquid nitrogen has completely evaporated due to the extremely low temperature of the food,” the FDA said.
Popular challenge on TikTok
The recent popularity of this snack in Indonesia may be due to the “Dragon’s Breath” Food Trend That Gone Viral on TikTok. Videos tagged #dragonsbreath have been viewed 205.5 million times and mostly show youngsters eating the brightly colored candies while exhaling clouds of smoke from their mouths.
In the social network of Chinese origin are also observed, dozens of videos, accompanied by music dance shows show teenagers and young children with tendrils of smoke coming out of their mouths as they devour “dragon’s breath”.
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