Study Buddy (Explorer): ‘Dangerous’ deep-fried starch toothpicks, popular among China’s young, spark health warning
- South Korean fad spreads through TikTok and Instagram, causing concern among parents and health authorities
- Each week, this page presents an interesting story that we have adjusted to be more accessible for all English learners
Deep-fried starch toothpicks are all the rage in South Korea, and the trend is spreading to China with health officials warning against the dangerous snack. Photo: CCTVContent provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] Health officials in China have issued a health warning over a new craze for eating deep-fried starch toothpicks which has spread among mainland youngsters after going viral in South Korea.
[2] CCTV reported parents in China have become concerned about the potential health effects the new fad could have on their children. In a video clip by CCTV, the toothpicks made from starch are shown being turned green by using a form of colouring and then cooked in hot oil with spices.
[3] The craze took hold in South Korea after it was introduced on a live-streaming platform that shows content creators eating excessive amounts of strange or unusual foods. It quickly spread to TikTok and Instagram also picked it up.
[4] Short videos showed people putting the toothpicks in sizzling oil until curly, then adding seasonings like cheese or spicy powder before eating. The clips have been shared and liked thousands of times. CCTV said people believed that the food was tasty and healthy.
[5] However, the toothpicks are made from sweetcorn and potato starch mixed with sorbitol, a sugar substitute which can have negative health effects like bloating and flatulence. On January 24, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued a warning on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, urging people to refrain from consuming the “deep-fried toothpicks”. “Starch toothpicks are not edible products. Their safety as food has not been verified,” the ministry said, adding: “Please do not eat them.”
[6] The story has sparked widespread public response in China. 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. While another said: “They look like worms, disgusting” and a third asked: “Is this really delicious?”
[7] Stories about bizarre food fads regularly make headlines in China. In September 2023, another South Korean-inspired dietary plan involving taking supplements like coenzyme Q10, fish oil, lutein, and vitamin D3, became all the rage with young people in China as they tried to balance unhealthy lifestyle choices.
[8] Last July, mainland youngsters began “raising” the seeds of mangoes as “pets” by grooming their sprouting hair and even keeping diaries for them, shocking mainland social media.
Source: South China Morning Post, January 31
Questions
1. What does the “new craze” in paragraph 1 refer to?
___________________________________________________
2. In paragraph 2, the toothpicks get the green colour from …
A. vegetables.
B. hot oil.
C. spices.
D. none of the above
3. Find a word in paragraph 3 that means “greater than what seems reasonable or appropriate”.
__________________________
4. Arrange the following steps of preparing starch toothpicks in chronological order from 1 to 3. (3 marks)
(a) deep-fry toothpicks until they become curly. ________
(b) Add seasonings to give flavour. ________
(c) Put toothpicks into hot oil. ________
5. Decide whether the following statements in paragraph 5 are True, False or the Information is Not Given. (4 marks)
(i) The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety says starch toothpicks are only safe for occasional consumption.
(ii) Sorbitol is used instead of sugar to create this product.
(iii) The deep-fried toothpicks are made from three different types of vegetables.
(iv) There have been reports of people feeling unwell after eating the toothpicks.
6. In paragraph 6, what animal has one social media user compared the starch toothpicks to?
___________________________________________________
7. Which of the following best describes the reactions in paragraph 6?
A. critical
B. positive
C. sympathetic
D. regretful
8. According to paragraph 7, a dietary plan which involved taking supplements become popular with people who …
A. hope to gain muscles.
B. wished to look youthful.
C. wanted to have a healthier lifestyle.
D. were trying to lose weight.
9. The food fad mentioned in paragraph 8 involved …
A. hair from an animal.
B. the seed of a type of fruit.
C. feeding one’s pet fruits.
D. gluing animal fur onto seeds.
Answers
1. eating deep-fried starch toothpicks
2. D
3. excessive
4. (a) 2; (b) 3; (c) 1
5. (i) F; (ii) T; (iii) F; (iv) NG
6. worms
7. A
8. C
9. B