Instant noodles blamed for 1/3 of child burns as K-Pop TikTok trend fuels spike

Doctors are sounding the alarm after a rise in childhood burn injuries linked to a new TikTok trend based on the hit Netflix movie K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Fans are eating instant noodles the same way the characters in the movie do in videos with hashtags like #KPopNoodleChallenge. But this trend is having bad effects on kids.

Medical professionals say that the hot broth in narrow ramen cups can easily spill over and burn kids, which can be so bad that they need to go to the hospital, as per a report by The Independent.



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Why are people getting hurt because of this TikTok trend?

Doctors at Shriners Children's Hospital in Boston say that more kids are coming in with burns that are linked to the viral challenge. Fans are copying the characters from K-Pop Demon Hunters by slurping ramen straight from tall, narrow cups.

“Water boils at 212 degrees, and the design of these cups makes them extremely easy to tip over. When they do, the hot broth and noodles spill onto the skin," said Dr. Colleen Ryan, an associate surgeon at Shriners Children's Boston, as per a report by The Independent.

Ryan said that kids are especially vulnerable because their skin is thinner. She said, “The noodles are sticky and retain heat, which means these noodle soup burns can be deeper and more damaging than a simple hot water scald.”

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How bad are these injuries from burning noodles?

The burns can be so bad that people have to stay in the hospital. Jason Bresky, a nurse and Trauma and Burn Injury Prevention Coordinator at Bridgeport Hospital, said, "We’ve definitely had patients that have had to stay in hospital with us as a result of hot soup and hot noodles falling on them,” as per NBC Connecticut.

A ten-year study by the University of Chicago found that one out of three childhood burn injuries is caused by instant noodles. Doctors say that the way the containers are made and the high temperatures make them especially dangerous for kids, as per a report by The Independent.

Are viral food trends making things worse?

This isn't the first time that a TikTok trend has hurt people badly. Last year, the "DIY Tanghulu" challenge, which involved boiling sugar to make candied fruit, caused a lot of kids to get second- and third-degree burns.

The issue has come up again in 2025. Shriners officials said, “This trend continues to gain traction in 2025, as eight patients have been treated at Shriners Children’s Boston so far this year.”

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What part does K-Pop Demon Hunters play in the craze?

In August, Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters became the most-watched movie on the site, with over 236 million views. The movie shows the girl group HUNTR/X fighting demons from other groups. There are also scenes of the characters eating ramen noodles, as per a report by The Independent.

Fans quickly turned those moments into the #KPopNoodleChallenge, which went viral. The craze grew even more after Nongshim, the company that makes Shin Ramyun, released an official ramen collaboration based on the movie. Online, the limited-edition noodles sold out quickly.

What should kids and parents do if they get burned?

Doctors say that stopping the problem before it starts and acting quickly are very important. Bresky told parents not to let their kids handle hot foods that had been microwaved without them being there. He said, "You shouldn't let your child play with a microwave or things that come out of it hot, just like you wouldn't let them play with a stove."

If you do get burned, experts say to take off any clothes that are covering the area, run cool tap water (not ice) over the burn for at least 20 minutes, and get medical help or call 911 if you need it.

FAQs

What makes instant noodles bad for kids?
The cups tip over easily, spilling hot broth and sticky noodles that can burn you badly.

What should parents do if their child gets burned?
Take off any clothes that are on the burn, run cool tap water over it for 20 minutes, and get medical help if you need it.