Right, why the hell are TikTokers cooking their chicken in flu medicine?

Every day, humanity strays further and further from normality. First, the government had to warn us not to eat literal dishwashing tablets. Then, another challenge led thousands of people to accidentally die after taking large amounts of an antihistamine.

Now, TikTokers are being told not to cook chicken in Nyquil; an over-the-counter drowsy medication for coughs and flu.

You’ve undoubtedly seen it on your FYP over the last week, with people boiling raw chicken in the ominous blue liquid. But, why on earth are they actually doing it? And what has the FDA said?

Photo via TikTok

Nyquil Chicken – more commonly known as the Sleepy Chicken Challenge – involves cooking a chicken breast in boiling medicine.

One TikToker reposted the original video, where a man explained he “got sick last night,” and had decided to season his chicken with Nyquil. This led to numerous other creators trying out the… er, dish, while also attracting widespread criticism across the app.

While some people have defended the challenge, stating it’s simply a “joke,” the FDA – America’s Food and Drug Administration – have said even so much as inhaling the medicine’s fumes could be toxic.

“These video challenges, which often target youths, can harm people — and even cause death,” a spokesperson stated. “Boiling a medication can make it much more concentrated and change its properties in other ways. Even if you don’t eat the chicken, inhaling the medication’s vapours while cooking could cause high levels of the drugs to enter your body. It could also hurt your lungs.”

So, there you have it kids. Don’t try this one at home.

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Featured image via TikTok.