Key Update

A recent case from China has raised fresh concerns about safe food consumption habits after a 42-year-old woman developed a severe oesophageal ulcer from eating boiling hotpot food too quickly. The woman, surnamed Wang, from Changsha in Hunan province, reportedly consumed food directly from a boiling hotpot without allowing it to cool during a meal with friends.

Soon after eating, she experienced chest tightness and a burning sensation in her throat. Although she drank ice-cold water for relief, her condition worsened overnight. By the next day, she struggled to swallow even water and sought medical treatment. Doctors at Changsha Eighth Hospital later discovered an eight-centimetre ulcer in her oesophagus through an endoscopy examination.

Food Temperature Can Become a Safety Risk

Medical experts said the case highlights an often-overlooked food safety issue — consuming food at excessively high temperatures. Doctors explained that the oesophagus can generally tolerate food temperatures only up to 50°C to 60°C. However, food taken directly from a boiling hotpot can reach temperatures of 80°C to 90°C, increasing the risk of burns and internal tissue damage. Experts also warned that drinking ice-cold water immediately after eating extremely hot food may further irritate sensitive tissues instead of reducing damage.

Experts Stress Safe Eating Habits

Health experts advise consumers to allow freshly cooked food to cool slightly before eating, especially soups, hot beverages, and hotpot dishes served at boiling temperatures. The incident has also triggered online discussions about the common habit of eating food while it is still piping hot. Many users shared similar experiences of mouth burns and throat discomfort caused by extremely hot food.

Doctors said timely treatment usually helps oesophageal ulcers heal completely. However, repeated exposure to very hot food may increase long-term health risks and damage the lining of the oesophagus over time. The case has now drawn attention to the importance of food temperature safety as part of broader consumer food safety awareness.

Source: Times Entertainment

South China Morning Post