Glass straws have been all the rage for a while now, and it’s easy to see why. They’re super durable and eco-friendly. They’re non-toxic, heat and cold resistant and you can just pop them in the dishwasher. But don’t be fooled! But they can also be dangerous. TikTok user Laura Del Fierro (@lauradelfierro6) found this out the hard way. She recounts how a glass straw put her in hospital.
In a 6-second video that’s been watched over 832,000 times, she’s in a hospital bed wearing a gown.
A message superimposed over the video reads, “I don’t know who should write the headline, but throw away the glass straws.” “Mine broke in the glass without me realising and now I’m in the hospital trying to find a 5 mm piece of glass in my intestines.” (Via)
Is anyone actually afraid?
Cinephiles who use glass straws are now worried. But are their fears really justified? One viewer said, “This is just another thing to worry about.”
“Now I’m really scared because I use a glass straw every day,” said another viewer.
“I just bought my glass straw! But that’s because of the warning. It feels like bastardization,” commented a third.
Others shared similar experiences, such as…
‘OMG girl, same thing happened to me, these straws are very dangerous! I don’t recommend using glass straws,’ commented one user.
‘Luckily I didn’t swallow, but I did chew, so ban glass straws,’ said another.
Watch out for glass straws!
They’re made from a special type of glass called borosilicate glass. This makes them stronger. But be careful! They can shatter if they come into contact with very hot or very cold liquids, such as pressurised carbonated drinks. And whatever you do, don’t try to eat them – they can break! (Via)
But if you take care of them, they’ll last you a long time. And for many people, the environmental benefits outweigh the potential problems. (Via)
Did you know that if you swallow a piece of glass, it’s dangerous?
If you chew it, it’ll break and if you swallow it, it could be fatal. (Via)
But if it’s a small piece, you might not realise you swallowed it. But watch out – if it’s a big piece, it might get stuck and cause some serious damage if it breaks out of your digestive tract. This can be fatal and only surgery can remove it. If you’ve swallowed a large piece of glass, you might feel some chest pain, cough, feel sick, get short of breath, be sick and have stomach pain. (Via) (Via)
Looking for some more eco-friendly straws that aren’t made from glass?
Well, there are other options that might interest you. You’ve got the option of bamboo, silicone or stainless steel straws. Just like glass straws, stainless steel straws aren’t designed for liquids subjected to extreme temperatures, according to zerowaste. Bamboo and silicone straws are great for both hot and cold drinks. Bamboo straws are harder to clean, while silicone and stainless steel straws are a breeze to clean.