FDA warns against 'Sleepy Chicken' Tik Tok challenge Transcript

Speaker 1: (00:00) Okay, so this might be hard to believe, but it is a thing. It is true. People are now cooking their chicken with NyQuil. Speaker 2: (00:08) Yes. It's gotten so bad the FDA actually had to send out a warning not to do it. And you can probably guess how this trend started, yup, it was part of yet another outrageous TikTok challenge. Speaker 1: (00:19) And Fox 26's Tiffany Justice is joining us live tonight after talking with the tox doc in our area about why this is really so dangerous, Tiff. Tiffany Justice: (00:29) Right. The tox doc saying, when she first heard of this new challenge she couldn't believe it. She says it can be toxic and it's important not to misuse over the counter medicine. Speaker 4: (00:40) I think it's kind obnoxious. It's kind of unnecessary and it's somewhat unsafe because they don't know what's in the NyQuil. Tiffany Justice: (00:49) For those we spoke with around Houston, they haven't heard of this new TikTok challenge. But nonetheless, like the other challenges, they can't believe it's a thing. Speaker 5: (00:58) Cooking chicken with NyQuil? Yeah. That's crazy. Speaker 6: (01:00) Yeah. I don't think it's good. Speaker 5: (01:01) That's wild. Watch your children. Stay off TikTok. Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry: (01:03) It is potentially extremely dangerous. I mean, when you take any kind of cough medication, it is meant to be taken orally and dealt with through the gastrointestinal system. Tiffany Justice: (01:14) The FDA now advising against this new TikTok challenge where people are cooking chicken with NyQuil or the ingredients to make coughs syrup. Calling it a recipe for danger, social media and peer pressure. Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry: (01:26) It is a complete misuse of what the product is intended for. And that's why when you look at any kind of over the counter medication, prescription medication, or even cleaning product, they always put that disclaimer, use as advised. Tiffany Justice: (01:40) Dr. Noreen, the tox doc, speaking with Fox 26, echoing the FDA's warning saying even though some doing the challenge may not be eating the mixture it's still dangerous. Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry: (01:49) When you start to heat up that cough syrup, it becomes very dangerous. You get exposed to it by inhalation and it affects the brain, specifically the prefrontal cortex, which is not even fully developed until people are in their 20s. Tiffany Justice: (02:03) The FDA also saying by boiling the cough syrup, it makes it much more concentrated and can also hurt your lungs. Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry: (02:10) So for me, it's frightening because I know how toxic it can be. I know that some people say, oh, you're scaring us. But no, this is really scary. And this is why people are ending up in very serious situations in the hospital. Tiffany Justice: (02:23) The FDA also is saying and recommending to have a conversation with your children and also locking up your non-prescription medications. Back to you in studio. Speaker 1: (02:35) Wow. It is just insane, Tiffany, the people are doing this. But it's really what we see. It's sort of like a copycat culture. Speaker 2: (02:41) Yeah, definitely is. And there's other medications that people are taking just for that hallucination effect as well. So I'm glad we're spotlighting this and what not to do. Thank you, Tiffany.