Following the "Cops and Robbers" gatherings, the trend of gathering to eat French fries, known as the "Fry Gathering," is on the rise. It is a local meeting where people come together based on their shared love for French fries without any specific purpose or activity.
Recently, posts recruiting participants to eat French fries together have been spreading online. It has been confirmed that there are over 99 Fry Gatherings (11 in Seoul) established on the second-hand trading and local community platform "Carrot." The "Fry Club" in Seongsan 2-dong, Mapo-gu, has gained 731 members within just two weeks of its establishment, while the "McDonald's Fry Gathering" in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, has recorded 491 members.
While enjoying your favorite food is a healthy trend, blindly jumping on trends is not advisable. Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. However, when they are deep-fried in oil and served with salt or ketchup, they can no longer be considered a nutritious food.
High-Temperature Frying Produces Acrylamide, Which Can Cause Inflammation and Dementia
Cooking plant-based foods high in carbohydrates, like potatoes and grains, at temperatures above 120 degrees Celsius can produce a chemical called acrylamide. Acrylamide can cause abnormalities in human nerve cells and trigger inflammation.
Long-term exposure to acrylamide from consuming foods like French fries increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Pregnant women should be especially cautious, as acrylamide can easily cross the placenta and negatively affect the fetus.
French fries can also harm blood sugar health. According to a study published in the international journal
The More Frequently Consumed, the Greater the Risk of Death
Frequent consumption of French fries leads to obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, ultimately increasing the risk of premature death. According to a study published in
If you care about your health, it is advisable to reduce the frequency of French fry consumption. If it is difficult to avoid French fries altogether, a helpful method is to eat potato dishes that provide a similar taste. This can be done by baking potatoes in an air fryer or oven and then lightly sautéing them in oil.
Meanwhile, as Fry Gatherings and various other gatherings like Cops and Robbers become popular, offline meetings based on anonymity are spreading. There is a concern that such gatherings may deviate from their original purpose and become distorted, necessitating individual caution. Given the wide age range of participants, there is also a possibility of exposure to various crimes.
