First eating tide pods, then taking needless allergy pills and now cooking chicken in cough medicine.
That is the new TikTok challenge taking the app by storm, but health professionals are warning against it.
The FDA have released a statement that the #sleepychicken challenge is dangerous... I would have hoped that was obvious 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5jhgfGCrh6
— Heather (@Lady_H__) September 21, 2022
The trend started in the states, with TikTok users recommending marinating and then boiling chicken in cough medicine as a cure for the cold or flu. In one video a TikTok user is heard saying “The steam makes you really sleepy”.
The FDA has released an official statement warning of the extreme dangers of this challenge;
"Even if you don't eat the chicken, inhaling the medication's vapors while cooking could cause high levels of the drugs to enter your body. It could also hurt your lungs."
The FDA also warns that boiling medicinal chemicals can change the structure of them, possibly making them fatal. Over the counter medicines are easily available in most households and many people are not aware of the strength of the medicines or what they contain.
TikTok has over 700 million users globally but since its launch a number of dangerous challenges have emerged. Dancing, lip syncing, and creating skits can be great craic but make sure a challenge is safe before you partake!
