Are Your Kids Safe with Instant Noodles?

Study Notes

A study by the University of Chicago found that instant noodles cause almost a third of childhood burn injuries.
The study examined data from all pediatric patients admitted with scald injuries caused by hot liquids between 2010 and 2020.
Of the 790 total cases of childhood scald injuries, 31% were caused by instant noodles.
The researchers found that children from ZIP codes with a lower average childhood opportunity index score were more likely to experience burns from instant noodles.
Children with burns from instant noodles were slightly older than children with other burn injuries, with an average age of 5.4 years.
The children were also more likely to have been unsupervised at the time of the injury.
The researchers linked the trend to the fact that instant noodles are a low-cost meal option.
The study's senior author, Sebastian Vrouwe, said that direct caregiver supervision is an essential preventive measure for reducing burns from instant noodles and other foods.
The researchers hope to develop the groundwork for future burn prevention programs.
The study confirmed that focused effort and awareness on these types of burns could have a significant impact in the communities that the burn center serves.