The Viral Baked Bean Trend
A dangerous new trend has emerged on the social media platform TikTok, where teenagers are burning cans of baked beans to the point that the fumes make them pass out. This viral “Baked Bean Challenge” involves heating up cans of baked beans on the stove or in the microwave until they are charred and smoking. The participants then quickly open the can and inhale the burnt bean fumes, causing them to lose consciousness and collapse due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The trend appears to have started in early 2021 but exploded in popularity over the summer, with numerous videos showing teens participating in the challenge. Many participants are able to get views in the millions on TikTok. However, doctors and safety experts have warned that the stunt is extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Inhaling burnt foods can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, choking hazards, and serious burn injuries to the airways.
One concerning video shows a group of teenage girls heating cans of beans until they are smoking, then quickly opening them and immediately passing out onto the floor from the fumes (Baked bean challenge!! – YouTube). The baked bean challenge puts participants at serious risk of brain damage or death from carbon monoxide poisoning. Experts urge parents to monitor their children’s social media use and warn them of the severe dangers of this and other viral stunts.
The Dangers of Inhaling Burning Foods
Inhaling smoke and fumes from burning foods can be extremely dangerous and lead to both short-term and long-term health effects. When foods burn, they release toxic chemicals that are hazardous if inhaled, even in small amounts.
One of the biggest risks is carbon monoxide poisoning. Burning foods release carbon monoxide gas, which reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen when inhaled (1). Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and fainting. At high concentrations, carbon monoxide can be fatal.
In addition to carbon monoxide, smoke from burning foods contains particulate matter that can irritate the lungs and cause inflammation (2). This swelling of the airways can lead to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Long-term inhalation of these particles has been linked to reduced lung function and respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, and cancer (3).
The high temperatures of burning food can also cause thermal injuries if the smoke is inhaled, leading to burns in the mouth and throat. This damage allows dangerous toxins to penetrate deep into the airways and lungs.
Overall, intentionally inhaling smoke and fumes from burning foods carries significant health risks that should not be taken lightly. It’s important to be aware of the dangers and avoid risky social media challenges promoting this behavior.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Burning food, especially in enclosed spaces like ovens or microwaves, can lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas. When foods are burnt or charred at high temperatures, carbon monoxide is released as a byproduct of incomplete combustion. According to the Cleveland Clinic, carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause carbon monoxide poisoning when inhaled [1]. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. At very high levels, carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and even death.
Enclosed spaces like ovens concentrate the carbon monoxide fumes given off by burnt food. Social media trends that involve burning large quantities of food in microwaves or other enclosed cooking devices can rapidly fill a room or house with dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Children attempting viral “challenges” involving burning food are at heightened risk. Quora users report carbon monoxide detectors alarming after burnt toast or popcorn [2]. Proper ventilation is key, but enclosed cooking spaces make dangerous carbon monoxide buildup more likely.
Burn Injuries
The Baked Bean Challenge poses a serious risk of burn injuries, especially to the face, mouth, and airways. As shown in the video of Mason Dark in North Carolina, handling extremely hot containers of baked beans can cause severe burns when the contents are inhaled or make contact with skin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odp62E5TGlw). Inhaling scorching hot baked beans or vapors can burn the mouth, throat, and lungs. Spilling large amounts of piping baked beans can also result in painful burns and blistering to the hands, arms, torso, legs and feet.
Medical professionals strongly advise against participating in viral food challenges involving dangerously hot items like baked beans fresh out of the oven. The risk of disfiguring burns, airway damage, and other serious injuries is incredibly high. Seeking emergency medical care is crucial for major burns. Prevention is key – social media users should think twice before handling or ingesting scalding foods or liquids for the sake of viral stunts and challenges.
Other Dangers
In addition to the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and burn injuries, the baked bean TikTok trend poses other dangers as well. One major concern is the risk of causing a fire. Heating up canned goods to extreme temperatures can be a fire hazard, especially if flammable substances like oil or alcohol are involved. The burnt food particles could ignite flames that quickly spread out of control.
According to safety experts, the baked bean challenge videos often show people using lighters, matches, or other ignition sources in close proximity to the heated cans. This greatly increases the chances of accidental fires breaking out, which could damage property or cause serious injuries. Proper fire safety precautions are typically not taken.
Furthermore, the trend risks normalizing reckless behavior around fire and flammable materials. Impressionable viewers may attempt to replicate the stunts without considering the fire risks. Parents and authorities recommend increased vigilance to ensure youths do not dangerously experiment with fire.
In summary, while carbon monoxide poisoning and burns are the most immediate threats, the baked bean challenge also creates unnecessary and preventable fire hazards. Following fire safety guidelines and modeling responsible behavior on social media is critical.
Psychology Behind Dangerous Trends
Dangerous viral trends often appeal to teens and young adults for several psychological reasons:
One is the desire to fit in and gain social approval. Doing these challenges can make young people feel part of a wider community participating in the trend. It satisfies the human need for belonging. The popularity of the baked bean trend on TikTok taps into this motivation (source 1).
There is also an element of competition and thrill-seeking. Completing risky challenges gives a rush of excitement and adrenaline. Young people often underestimate the real dangers involved. Psychologists call this “misestimation of risk” (source 2).
FOMO or “fear of missing out” also drives participation. Teens don’t want to be left out of a popular new trend that their peers are doing. Viral trends spread rapidly on social media, which amplifies this effect (source 1).
The desire for social validation through likes, comments and shares is another factor. Dangerous challenges tend to get a big reaction online, which is rewarding for young people (source 1).
Promoting Safe Social Media Use
While social media platforms can provide entertainment and community for teens, it’s important that they are used responsibly and safely. Parents should have open conversations with their teens about avoiding dangerous viral trends and stunts that could lead to injury (Social media brings benefits and risks to teens. Here’s how parents can help). Teens should be encouraged to think critically about challenges and trends they see online, consider the risks and motivations behind them, and refrain from mimicking harmful behaviors just for social approval or views.
It’s recommended that teens make their social media accounts private, only accept friend requests from people they know, and avoid oversharing personal information like their address or school (A Teens Guide to Social Media Safety). Teens should also feel empowered to unfollow or block accounts that promote dangerous activities. If they see friends participating in risky viral stunts, they can politely express concern. Overall, teens should aim to model safe behavior online and use social media for positivity.
Parents can help by maintaining an open dialogue about social media, monitoring their teen’s use and mental health, and leading by example with their own responsible social media habits (Keeping teens safe on social media: What parents should know). With some forethought and care, teens can harness the benefits of social media while steering clear of dangerous viral stunts.
Seeking Medical Care
If you or someone you know has attempted one of these dangerous viral challenges involving inhaling burning food, it is crucial to seek medical care for any concerning symptoms that develop. Inhaling hot, burning vapors can lead to lung damage and carbon monoxide poisoning, which requires prompt medical treatment (source). Some concerning symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, or loss of consciousness. These can indicate lung inflammation, airway obstruction, or toxic gas inhalation. It’s important not to wait days to see if symptoms resolve on their own. Medical evaluation and possible oxygen therapy should be sought immediately in cases of smoke inhalation.
Additionally, burns to the mouth, throat or airway require urgent medical care to assess damage and prevent complications like swelling or infection (source). While many viral illnesses resolve on their own within 7-10 days, symptoms that appear immediately concerning after engaging in dangerous online challenges warrant seeking prompt medical treatment. Don’t take chances with your health and safety. Get evaluated right away if you have breathing difficulties, burn injuries or worrisome symptoms after attempting these ill-advised social media challenges.
A Call for Prudence
While viral internet trends may seem harmless at first, it’s important to exercise caution before participating in them. As we’ve seen with the baked bean TikTok trend, some of these challenges can lead to serious health consequences. Before jumping on the latest viral bandwagon, it’s wise to carefully consider any potential dangers. Social media trends spread rapidly, often without full understanding of the risks involved. By using prudence and checking credible sources, we can make informed decisions about what challenges are truly safe versus those that are best avoided.
It’s also important for parents and educators to have open conversations with youth about using discretion with online trends. Peer pressure can lead young people to participate in risky viral challenges without stopping to think it through. Guiding teens and children to pause and evaluate viral stunts against their own personal safety is key. There are always new fads arising on the internet. The solution is not to ban or censor them all, but rather to empower youth with the skills to analyze these trends critically. With care and prudence, we can help guard individual and public health while still allowing creative new trends to flourish safely.
As the famous quote goes “better safe than sorry.” Approaching viral internet phenomena with a healthy dose of prudence just makes good sense. By thinking before clicking, assessing risks and benefits, and using reliable health information to guide decisions, we can save ourselves needless harm. The next time some crazy online challenge starts blowing up, feel free to laugh at the absurdity. But pause before you participate, and carefully consider whether passing out from inhaling burning beans is really worth the fleeting social media fame.
Focusing on Positive Trends
While dangerous social media challenges grab headlines, many positive and constructive trends also go viral on sites like TikTok. Research shows that positive emotions like awe, inspiration, and amusement help drive sharing of online content (source). Platforms can spotlight these trends to provide alternatives to risky behavior.
For example, the #TrashTag challenge encouraged people to clean up litter in their communities and share photos of the results. The #TetrisChallenge showed first responders creatively arranging their gear. Even silly dances can spread joy. Platforms should consider promoting such uplifting trends on their apps through curated feeds and recommendations.
We all have a role in steering social conversation toward the positive. Next time you see a dangerous trend, try starting a constructive one instead. Share kindness, not recklessness. With care and creativity, our connections can bring out the best in humanity.
