A viral social media trend inspired by the blockbuster animated film “Kpop Demon Hunters” has prompted a prominent Boston hospital to issue a public safety warning. Doctors are reporting an increase in children suffering serious scald burns after attempting to replicate scenes from the movie involving instant cup noodles.
The Shriners Children’s Hospital in Boston released a statement this month alerting parents to the potential dangers of the online trend. Children and fans of the movie have been participating in the #KPopNoodleChallenge and #DemonHuntersRamen hashtags, posting videos of themselves eating the specific type of tall, narrow instant noodle cups featured in the film.
The tall, narrow instant noodle cups featured in the hit movie “Kpop Demon Hunters.”
A Growing Medical Concern
Dr. Colleen Ryan, a surgeon at the hospital, stated that she has recently been treating children for burn injuries from instant noodles as frequently as two to three times a week. This issue predates the movie’s release; a prior study found that instant noodle spills were already responsible for nearly one-third of all pediatric scald burn injuries. However, the immense popularity of “Kpop Demon Hunters,” which was released on Netflix over the summer and became the platform’s biggest movie debut ever, has amplified the problem.
In the film, the main characters are often seen eating from distinctive noodle cups made by the brand Nongshim. These cups are taller and thinner than the more common wider, bowl-shaped containers, making them potentially less stable and more prone to tipping over, especially when handled by children.
“Children have thinner skin the younger they are, and the temperature threshold for burn injury is even lower,” Dr. Ryan explained in the statement, highlighting why they are more vulnerable to severe burns than adults.
Doctors are warning that children’s thinner skin makes them more susceptible to serious burns.
Simple Preparation, Serious Risk
The process of making instant cup noodles is deceptively simple: add a sauce packet and boiling water to the cup, cover it, and let it steep for a few minutes. However, the combination of boiling water, a potentially unstable container, and the enthusiastic participation of young children has created a recipe for accidents.
The hospital’s warning aims to make parents and caregivers aware of these increased risks so they can supervise children more closely and prevent painful injuries associated with the viral trend.
The global success of “Kpop Demon Hunters” has inadvertently led to a new safety concern for children.
