17.06.2026 17:02
Liquid nitrogen snacks known as 'Dragon Breath,' popular in Turkey and around the world, cause fatal damage to children's organs due to their temperature of minus 196 degrees Celsius. Prof. Dr. Mahir İğde stated that when consumed, these liquid nitrogen products, which emit smoke from the mouth, carry very serious health risks such as intestinal perforation, sepsis, and severe allergic reactions.
Prof. Dr. Mahir İğde stated that liquid nitrogen snacks carry serious health risks, warning that they can cause intestinal perforation and fatal infections.
Recently, experts have warned about the dangers of liquid nitrogen snacks, commonly referred to as "Dragon's Breath," which produce white smoke from the mouth and nose, and are frequently discussed in Turkey and around the world. Prof. Dr. Mahir İğde from the Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Department at Medicana Zincirlikuyu Hospital drew attention to the hidden dangers of these snacks, which are used in various products such as ice cream, particularly appealing to children due to their appearance.
"A HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC SITUATION FOR HEALTH" Prof. Dr. Mahir İğde explained the extent of the danger with these words:
"They take liquid nitrogen and embed it into all kinds of junk food. When it comes into contact with air, its liquid state at minus 196 degrees Celsius immediately begins to evaporate. When consumed, vapors come out of your mouth and nose, which people find appealing. That's why it's called Dragon's Breath, but it is a highly problematic situation for health. Imagine, a substance that needs to be kept at minus 196 degrees Celsius, when suddenly exposed to room temperature, begins to evaporate instantly, meaning you are exposed to an extremely cold substance. If it goes to the intestines and stomach without fully evaporating, it can suddenly expand and perforate the intestine. Even if it doesn't perforate, it can cause severe abdominal pain due to high pressure. It can cause bacteria to mix into the blood through the intestinal wall, leading to very serious infections called sepsis. In allergic individuals, it can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, urticaria, and in non-allergic individuals, it can cause the development of allergies."
"A PRODUCT THAT SHOULD NEVER BE CONSUMED" Emphasizing that the product should never be consumed under any circumstances, Prof. Dr. İğde stated that in case of serious symptoms, one should see a doctor immediately, and said the following:
"Even under the best conditions, exposure to such a cold substance can cause severe cold burns in the mouth and esophagus. You are giving junk food to a child under abnormal conditions; the junk food itself can already cause severe allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, and similar problems in children. It is a product that should never be used or consumed. It can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you experience any of these, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Is it worth taking such a risk just to have steam coming out of your mouth? Absolutely not. Please try to protect both yourself and your children."
"CAN LEAD TO FATAL CONDITIONS" Referring to hospital admissions and treatment processes, Prof. Dr. İğde concluded his remarks as follows:
"They come in; when vomiting starts, we already monitor them for 8-12 hours. We need to administer fluids, and we try to determine if there is an infection. If necessary, we give prophylactic antibiotics. Fortunately, we have not encountered any intestinal perforation so far, but we have encountered serious infections. Because of the risk of intestinal perforation, we had to monitor the children for 3-4 days, even up to 5 days. Let's try to raise our children with natural foods free of additives as much as possible. Dragon's Breath can cause fatal conditions at a very serious rate. How? The sudden expansion caused by unvaporized nitrogen descending into the intestine can cause intestinal perforation and become life-threatening. It can lead to very serious infections and resulting fatal conditions."