Corn starch is a thickening agent. You will find it in many sauces at your local supermarket, from BBQ sauce to ketchup to hot sauce. Corn starch is also commonly used to thicken up gravies, soups, stews, and custards. Despite corn starch having zero nutritional benefits and being tasteless, some people like to eat it. In this article, we are going to explore the trend of eating corn starch.
Why do people eat cornstarch? People eat corn starch because they suffer from an eating disorder known as pica which is a craving for non-food items. People also eat corn starch out of curiosity, for a dare or to follow the latest trends on TikTok.
Do People With Pica Eat Corn Starch?
If someone has a strong craving for corn starch, they may have a mental disorder known as pica. People with pica crave and eat non-food items. They can eat everything from dirt to nails to paper and corn starch.
Pica is a serious condition because people can literally poison themselves by eating dangerous things that they can’t digest or contain toxins. If someone only craves corn starch, then they are very likely as corn starch is harmless and not toxic at all.
Pica is most common among pregnant women, small children, and people with mental disorders, especially autism. Fortunately, the condition is treated and usually goes away. If you have persistent cravings for corn starch then you should see a doctor!
Is Eating Corn Starch a TikTok Trend?
TikTokker Angel Ogbonna (@angelkelechi), who now has almost 6 million followers went viral on the platform thanks to her video where you chewed down on a massive rock of corn starch. She has tons of different corn starch mukbangs which are a little bizarre.
Angel Ogbonna’s corn starch eating habit left viewers perplexed. With many claiming she should sign up for the reality tv show My Strange Addiction. However, her actions did inspire some people to try out corn starch. Commenters revealed they followed Ogbonna’s but were not impressed with the flavor. Some commented that it tasted like chalk, while others said it tasted like their grandmother’s knee.
Ogbonna is definitely a corn starch-eating trendsetter! You can now find hundreds of different people on TikTok recording themselves eating corn starch. Who knows how long this trend will continue, but at the moment it is a little worrying just how many people are eating corn starch.
See also: What Does Cornstarch Taste Like?
Do People Eat Corn Starch For a Dare?
Another major reason people are taking spoonfuls of corn starch is that their friends dared them to. It is common to dare people to eat strange and disgusting things, so it is no surprise that corn starch features in this silly game.
As corn starch is tasteless and won’t cause any damage to your digestive system, darers are getting off lightly when being pushed to eat corn starch. There are definitely many worse things someone could eat, raw eggs or some horrific concoction of vinegar come to mind.
If you have been dared to eat corn starch by your friends, we recommend refusing to do so. It is not healthy to eat corn starch, and consuming large amounts can make you feel sick. Also, dealing with the chalky texture will not be a pleasant eating experience!
Do People Eat Corn Starch Because They Are Curious?
Have you ever found a box or bag of corn starch sitting in your cupboard and thought, what does that taste like? Most of us never let this thought get past that stage. However, there are a few brave souls who decide to take these thoughts to their final conclusion and take out a spoon and start digging in.
Some people just can’t let go of their curiosity and feel compelled to try corn starch. The vast majority of these people eat corn starch once and realize that it is not worth eating again. Corn starch is tasteless, and the powdery texture results in a mouthful of regret! If you are thinking of eating corn starch, please don’t, it is not worth it!
Should You Eat Raw Cornstarch?
You should not eat raw corn starch. Raw corn starch has no flavor or nutritional value and has a horrible powdery texture. It is designed to be used as a thickening agent and not eaten.
What Are the Dangers of Eating Cornstarch?
A small dose of cornstarch is not going to kill you, but it is far from healthy. Here are some of the problems with eating cornstarch:
- Zero nutritional value
- Calorie dense
- High in carbs
- Can cause blood sugar to spike
- Processed food that is not easily digestible
Is Cornstarch Bad For You?
A small amount of cornstarch is ok to eat. It is unlikely that consuming it every now and then in sauces, custards, and soups will do you any harm because the amount used is so small.
However, cornstarch is a processed food item that is high in carbs and calories. If you want to optimize your diet and eat only healthy foods, then we recommend not consuming any corn starch, even small amounts.
Final Thoughts
Cornstarch is commonly used as a thickening agent in soups, sauces, and stews. It is a white powder that is virtually tasteless. It is not designed to be eaten. However, people with a mental disorder called pica sometimes eat it, and it has also become a trend on TikTok to eat corn starch, thanks to Angel Ogbonna (@angelkelechi).
