By Harsha Prakashan S
A video of a boy developing severe uneasiness on consuming smoked nitrogen biscuits at a fair in Karnataka’s Davanagere went viral recently, raising alarms about liquid nitrogen in foods and drinks.
The effects of ingesting liquid nitrogen include burns in the oral cavity, perforations in the food pipe, stomach, and intestine. Contact with the skin can cause burns and frostbites.
Liquid nitrogen doused foods have been enticing children by producing smoke-like vapors from the mouth and nose on being eaten. It is used in ice creams, cocktails, and several snacks.
Liquid nitrogen is used as a freezing agent in food preparation and preservation in the rapid freezing of foods and beverages, to process dry herbs & spices, and to enhance presentation, consumer appeal.
The US FDA in 2017 had warned of severe damage to skin and internal organs due to liquid nitrogen and said it should not be directly consumed or allowed direct exposure to skin.
The first reported death from liquid nitrogen consumption was from Alabama, USA in 1983. In India, a Gurgaon man burnt a hole in his stomach after drinking a cocktail mixed with the chemical.
Liquid nitrogen, an essential chemical, has been used medically for cryotherapy to freeze and destroy abnormal or diseased skin and tissues.
Experts recommend enforcing stringent laws against unregulated use of liquid nitrogen and advocate for its judicious usage.