Did you know there are some dangerous TikTok food trends that are making the rounds on the popular app? TikTok is incredibly popular. In fact, at the end of last year, we learned that TikTok had surpassed Google as the most popular site on the planet.

And honestly, here is a lot to love about the app. It can provide minutes (or hours) of entertainment, you can learn some interesting facts, and even find great hacks for just about anything. And there’s been no shortage of recipes that have quickly gone viral. But, be careful when you’re trying out some of those food trends on the popular app.

The website Eat This, Not That! got in touch with some food safety experts and registered dietitians to uncover some of the most dangerous food trends that are circulating on TikTok.

Here are some of those trends, according to Eat This, Not That!

• "Sleepy Chicken"

  The fact that anyone ever thought of this is mind-blowing.  But the alarming “sleepy chicken” trend reemerged early this year, although it initially started on social media a few years ago.

  The concept behind this? Brining or marinating raw chicken in NyQuil, the cold and flu medicine, before boiling it or frying it.

  Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD, LD, of Street Smart Nutrition addresses the dangers of this trend, saying it is absolutely not a safe way to consume the chicken or the cold and flu medicine. Some creators are seen using around half a bottle of NyQuil, which is well above a recommended dose. With this approach, it’s hard to know for sure what the consumer actually ingests of the dosage, but more than likely it’s more than a recommended dose. And apparently, boiling a medication can increase its potency.

  Harbstreet also points out that a lot of the chicken in these videos appear undercooked. We all know eating undercooked chicken is unsafe.

  In summary- use medicine for just that– and follow recommended dosing.  And when cooking chicken, be sure to cook it thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in Your Toaster

  Don’t get us wrong, we love tips and tricks to make things easier and quicker… but, sticking a cheese sandwich in a toaster to make a grilled cheese isn’t a great idea. One expert points out the importance of using equipment for its intended purpose.  And toasters weren’t made to be panini presses.  Using this method could actually spark a fire.

  Sorry, but the best option on this one is to go back making grilled cheese sandwiches the traditional way!

• "What I Eat In A Day" Videos

  There are a lot of nutritionists, or wannabe nutritionists and fitness “gurus” who share videos documenting their daily food intake.  And while that in itself isn’t bad, it could be dangerous.  The videos typically represent healthy, fresh meals, which is great.  But many see the videos as, “If I eat like that, I can look like that.”  This can lead to unhealthy and disordered eating.  And on top of that, everyone’s bodies are different and depending on your activity levels and health, your body may require more or less calories or different vitamins, minerals, etc.

• Drinking Chlorophyll Water

  Many videos have circulated on TikTok about adding chlorophyll drops into your water.  That by itself is probably safe, but many make claims that this simple addition can cure various issues. It’s up for debate exactly what benefits you may actually see, or how effective it really is.  The trend itself is likely safe if you consume the recommended dose.  Just don’t get your hopes up for any major miracles.

  Consuming chlorophyll may lead to some minor GI discomfort, diarrhea or dark stools.  The expert on this one recommends skipping pricey supplements and use the real thing to get your chlorophyll- like spinach, kale, collard greens, arugula and broccoli.

• Dry Scooping Pre-Workout Supplements

  We’ve seen this trend a lot among the fitness community on TikTok. Obviously, pre-workout supplements are used by many fitness enthusiasts.  But dry-scooping the powder could be dangerous.  The expert on this one highlights the choking risk, but also potential toxicity if the amount consumed is above recommended dosage.

  Many pre-workouts have very high caffeine levels.  In high doses, it could cause heart problems, trouble breathing or even death.

  Be aware of what’s in that pre-workout… and take the time to mix it with an adequate amount of water.

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