Remember that episode of Parks & Recreation in which the gang goes to a bar named Essence? It’s known for molecular mixology, which made their drinks way different than Ron Swanson’s standard glass of Lagavulin. Even though some of the drinks at Essence seemed ridiculous — like, vodka served as a flash of light — the use of liquid nitrogen isn’t so far-fetched. In fact, plenty of food fans on Instagram snap photos of cool items that utilize it.
Liquid nitrogen might make desserts and drinks look super cool, but as it turns out, it’s not the safest. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration just announced that people shouldn’t even think of consuming anything that uses liquid nitrogen in a specific way. This is good news for Ron Swanson, but bad for trendy bars and restaurants that have used it to concoct some of their most popular menu items.
The FDA admitted that liquid nitrogen even had the potential to cause death, and was especially dangerous for those with conditions such as asthma. “Liquid nitrogen, although non-toxic, can cause severe damage to skin and internal organs if mishandled or accidentally ingested due to the extremely low temperatures it can maintain,” said the statement on their website.
There’s one product, in general, you’ll want to make sure to avoid. Instagrammer Frankie Pozos recently posted a video in which he’s eating a liquid nitrogen treat at the fair. Even though it looks cool, his caption expressed that things took a downward turn.
“I severely burned my mouth with this really cold thing,” Pozos wrote. “Cold things do that? Whoa! Science, man!”
Treats like the one Pozos had are often sold at fairs, typically under the names of “dragon’s breath,” “nitro puff,” or “heaven’s breath.” They’re tempting to try, but they’ll end up causing more damage than they’re worth.
Here’s the good news — it’s possible to stay safe with liquid nitrogen. The FDA stated that items that are served after the liquid nitrogen has evaporated off are generally safe. “Some frozen confections, are treated in such a way that results in the complete evaporation of liquid nitrogen before reaching the consumer and are no longer at an extremely low temperature, and therefore do not pose a significant risk of injury,” their statement said.
Just remember, safety is way more important than Instagram likes. And there are plenty of other trendy snacks that are worth sampling.
