‘Forbidden snack’ is a slang term used to describe household objects that appear to be potentially edible treats, but in actuality are hazardous to consume. This term has recently been popularized by the rise of the Tide Pod Challenge memes on social media. What sparked this odd craving? Twitter user, @nightfiIm, tweeted out screenshots of a direct message made to Gushers with the caption, “i really tried and died for the cause.” In the direct message the user requested that they make a fruit snack that looks like a laundry pod. Upon receiving this direct message, Gushers promptly blocked the user. Since this encounter, numerous memes have arisen picturing teens with tide pods in their mouths as well as twitter threads listing other forbidden snacks. Tide has yet to comment on this new trend.

 The Tide Pod Challenge can be compared to prior dangerous activities that became very common trends amongst millennials. This includes challenges such as the Salt and Ice Challenge, the Cinnamon Challenge, and the Eraser Challenge. Each of these challenges quickly became popular with the use of the internet. Like a domino effect, many kids begun partaking in these challenges with their friends.

 Despite the humorous memes, Tide pods are not safe for consumption. These pods are filled with concentrated laundry detergent, thus, poisonous to the human body.