The Dangers of Ingesting Dragon’s Breath

Dragon’s Breath is a sweet treat that is made of a cereal or puff that is then dipped in liquid nitrogen. What makes it so alluring to kids is that the person eating this treat will have a smoke-looking substance come out of their mouth “like a dragon”. While it might sound like a fun item to eat, it can have potential dangers.

In New Jersey, there was a case involving a female who had to go to the hospital emergency room after ingesting two Dragon’s Breath puffs. The patient suffered from severe acid reflux.

What are the potential dangers of Dragon’s Breath, also known as Heaven’s Breath and Nitro puff?

While some frozen drinks and foods may contain traces of liquid nitrogen, it usually evaporates before individuals consume the item, making it harmless. But when liquid nitrogen is provided on a food or drink item right before it is consumed, it can lead to serious injuries similar to frostbite in the mouth and internal organs.

It can also cause (in more detail):

·         Hazards to skin, lips, tongue, gums, teeth, inside of mouth and throat.

·         People with asthma can suffer from an asthma attack from the extreme temperature change in the air they are breathing.

·         If you swallow a piece of the cereal infused with liquid nitrogen you could cause burns to your esophagus and GI tract.

·         Handling liquid nitrogen can cause burns if not handled properly.

·         Inhaling liquid nitrogen vapors is NOT recommended.

The FDA claims that serious injury can result from consumption of products with liquid nitrogen infused at the point of sale. For more on this visit: https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm618058.htm. Contact the your local poison center in Texas if you think you might have come in contact with liquid nitrogen and had an adverse reaction. Poison information specialists are available via 1-800-222-1222 anytime of any day, at no cost.