South Korean Government Warns People Not to Eat Fried Toothpicks After Trend Goes Viral

The toothpicks in question aren't wooden like the ones used in the U.S. — they're made of starch

The South Korean government is asking its citizens not to eat fried toothpicks after the trend went viral in the country.

The toothpicks in question are made of starch — they're not the wooden ones often used in the U.S. But the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety still warned its citizens that the green hygiene sticks, which resemble mini green curly fries when cooked, have not been verified as safe to eat.

"Starch toothpicks are not edible product...their safety as food has not been verified," the ministry said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), translated by CBS News. "Please do not eat."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The trend has reportedly become popular after it was seen on mukbang shows on social media, a genre of video in which people show themselves eating excessive amounts of food, or food that is considered strange, Reuters reported.

Videos from these shows include people frying up the little green sticks in frying pans with oil and adding seasoning like powdered cheese to them.

In another social media post on the subject, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said that the sticks, which can also be made with sweet potato, meet the country's standards as a hygiene product, but that's all.

Related: Frozen Honey Is the Easiest (and Sweetest) Food Trend on TikTok

Per Reuters, they're often used in South Korean restaurants to pick up finger foods.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.