Is lettuce still safe to eat amid Taco Bell illness probe? Doctors answer

A Cyclospora parasite outbreak has put lettuce in the spotlight as investigators examine a possible link to Taco Bell, raising concerns among consumers about whether it's still safe to eat fresh greens.

While investigators have not identified a specific product or supplier as the source of the outbreak, interviews with sick patients have repeatedly pointed to lettuce and other salad greens as common exposures, and many of those patients also reported eating at Taco Bell before becoming ill.

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State and federal health officials – including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), CDC and FDA – are investigating a possible link between fresh ingredients served at certain Taco Bell locations and the Cyclospora outbreak.

The chain has voluntarily removed select fresh ingredients at certain locations while public health officials continue their investigation.

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, California-based Taco Bell Corp. said, "The health and safety of our guests is our top priority. Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities."

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite (Cyclospora cayetanensis) that infects the small intestine after people consume contaminated food or water, according to the CDC.

The agency confirmed that 1,645 domestic Cyclospora cases have been reported since May 1, most often linked to fresh produce, including leafy greens, cilantro and berries.

The CDC is also investigating more than 5,100 additional suspected cases, with a total of 145 people having been hospitalized with the infection.

"Cyclosporiasis is not generally a life-threatening illness for most people," Tammy Lundstrom, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Trinity Health in Michigan, told Fox News Digital.

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"The biggest concern is that it can cause severe, prolonged diarrhea that may last for weeks or even longer if it's not diagnosed and treated."

People should seek medical attention if they have lasting, severe diarrhea. The symptoms can be very prolonged in people with compromised immune systems, Lundstrom noted.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said the parasite has been primarily identified in packaged lettuce and salad bags, but no particular brand has been pinpointed.

"In the meantime, the best strategy is to wash lettuce and all salad greens thoroughly and to wash your hands with soap and water before and after preparing food," he told Fox News Digital, adding that "the chances of acquiring it still remains extremely low."

Registered dietitian nutritionist Caroline Margolis, the on-staff registered dietitian at Lifeway Foods, an Illinois-based company best known for its kefir and other cultured dairy products, also weighed in on the risk.

"While health officials have identified lettuce as the likely culprit, the exact source remains unknown," she told Fox News Digital.

For now, she recommends skipping prewashed, bagged lettuce and salad mixes.

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"Instead, choose whole heads of lettuce, discarding the outer two to three leaves, and wash and rinse thoroughly," Margolis advised. "If you do develop cyclosporiasis, stay hydrated and seek medical care if needed."

"Be sure to support your recovery with nutrient-rich, easy-to-digest foods and probiotic options like kefir, yogurt, bananas, apples and oatmeal."

Lundstrom reiterated that it ’s unclear whether any specific fresh produce is responsible, even though past outbreaks have sometimes been linked to fruits and vegetables.

"Federal public health authorities have not issued any warnings to avoid lettuce or other fresh produce at this time," she told Fox News Digital. "It is recommended to thoroughly wash lettuce and other leafy greens, which can significantly reduce the amount of any pathogen present."

Until further information is known, Lundstrom said iceberg is currently a better option for lettuce. She recommends first washing the entire head, then discarding the outermost leaves.

"Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly when handling and preparing fresh produce," she added.

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For those who wish to take further precautions, frozen and canned produce may be safer options, according to the dietitian.

"It’s important to follow CDC recommendations for safe food and vegetable handling and preparation to help reduce the risk of illness," she said.

Those recommendations include the following.

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Lundstrom added, "It's important to remember that fruits and vegetables in all forms are an essential part of our daily healthy diet, and by exercising these practical preventive steps, people can still enjoy these nutritious foods."

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Think your cortisol is too high? Expert reveals the truth behind viral wellness craze

Social media feeds have recently been flooded with wellness influencers warning about the dangers of high cortisol.

But is this complex hormone truly something people should try to eliminate, or is it a victim of online hyperbole?

In a recent Fox & Friends segment, Ainsley Earhardt sat down with New York City-based certified dietitian and nutritionist Amy Shapiro to separate fact from fiction.

Despite its reputation, cortisol is a biological necessity. Produced by the adrenal glands, it is the body's primary stress hormone.

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"It does help us in many ways," Shapiro said during the segment.

"It helps us get out of bed in the morning. You have a cortisol spike. Gives you that energy to get up and go. It helps to protect you when you have to run ... It helps support your immune system."

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Under normal conditions, cortisol levels follow a natural 24-hour cycle, peaking in the morning to help the body wake up and gradually dropping to their lowest point at night. 

Problems arise when the body remains in a prolonged state of stress, causing cortisol levels to stay elevated.

According to Mayo Clinic, chronic exposure to high cortisol can disrupt almost all of the body's processes, contributing to anxiety, sleep issues and weight gain.

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Shapiro highlighted these as markers of cortisol imbalance, along with additional warning signs like frequent illness and feelings of burnout.

While influencers often attribute a puffy face ("moon face") entirely to cortisol, Shapiro said this is often misleading.

"It could be your diet, it could be high salt, it could be [inadequate] hydration. Maybe we're not all walking around with these taxed cortisol levels."

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Those who suspect their levels are off-balance shouldn't rely on self-diagnosis, the expert advised. A doctor can order saliva or blood tests to accurately measure hormone levels.

Managing spikes starts with identifying and avoiding common daily triggers. Shapiro pointed out that caffeine can increase cortisol levels, especially when consumed on an empty stomach.

She added that exercising and doing high-intensity interval training late at night can also cause a spike in cortisol. "It's better to do it in the morning when your cortisol levels are naturally high," she recommended.

Shapiro also cautioned against "eating ultraprocessed foods, eating high-sugar foods, drinking soda and not eating a balanced diet," as well as "high stress, not getting adequate sleep, not moving your body."

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"Recognizing that we do live in a high-stress society right now, taking time to manage our stress is a good idea," she added.

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Popular diet trend could boost mental health among older adults, study finds

Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil may help keep the mind strong even into old age, according to new research.

Older adults in England who followed a Mediterranean diet — which is primarily composed of the above foods — during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher psychological well-being than peers who did not.

The researchers tracked more than 3,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 90 to determine how their daily food choices related to their long-term outlook on life, according to a press release.

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The participants filled out specialized surveys that measured positive psychological traits, including their sense of autonomy, life satisfaction, purpose and control over daily routines.

Each participant also received a score based on how closely their eating habits matched a traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern.

Adults who stuck closely to the Mediterranean diet reported a significantly stronger sense of overall well-being.

This finding held even after researchers accounted for factors like income, education, physical activity, smoking habits and general physical health.

The boost in well-being did not appear to be driven by differences in caloric intake, which suggests the specific types of food played an important role.

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As the researchers tracked the participants over several years, they were able to measure how their well-being shifted during the early months of the pandemic.

While emotional well-being and happiness dropped across the entire group during the lockdowns, the study – which was published in BMJ Open – showed the decline was less intense for people who stuck to the Mediterranean diet.

Previous research points to a few explanations for this.

"This study shows what we’ve been seeing in other research," Kim Kulp, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of the Gut Health Connection in the San Francisco Bay Area, told Fox News Digital.

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The Mediterranean diet is naturally rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids from fish and antioxidants called polyphenols found in extra-virgin olive oil.

These nutrients help to lower inflammation in the brain and support a healthy gut microbiome, which is directly linked to the chemical production of mood-regulating hormones, experts say.

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"Since the Mediterranean diet is loaded with a variety of plant foods, it provides an increase in nutrients for the body and brain, special compounds that reduce inflammation, and prebiotics to feed the good gut microbes," said Kulp, who was not involved in the study.

Researchers noted some limitations to the data, including the fact that the study relied on self-reported dietary surveys, which can sometimes be inaccurate.

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Additionally, the participants who completed the tracking tended to be healthier and wealthier than the general public, meaning the results might not fully apply to more diverse or vulnerable populations.

"There were only two days of dietary data, and the psychological well-being test was only administered on two occasions, both early on during COVID," Kulp noted. "Two days of data may not be enough to form conclusions."

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Because the study was observational, it could not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the diet and improved mental health, the researchers acknowledged.

"Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes provides the ultimate combination of nutrients to improve overall health as we age," said Kulp.

"Together, this diet can help reduce stress and depression and improve a sense of well-being, even during the toughest times."

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'Miracle on the Hudson' hero Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis

One of the nation’s most famous aviators and great heroes has announced a heartbreaking diagnosis.

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III, the pilot who saved 155 people after making an emergency landing in New York’s Hudson River in what became known as "The Miracle on the Hudson," shared in a public statement that he was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

"It is early stage," he revealed. "For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as well, but I am in the beginning of this long journey."

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Sullenberger, 75, shared with People magazine that he’s had trouble recalling details within the last year, despite having a photographic memory. He received his official diagnosis in August 2025.

The pilot became a celebrity when he carried out the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15, 2009, after colliding with a flock of geese that resulted in engine failure. Everyone onboard survived.

Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia, impacts more than seven million people in the U.S. over the age of 65, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

"My doctor, Dr. Gil Rabinovici with UCSF Medical Center, has opened my eyes to the prevalence of Alzheimer’s," Sullenberger said in his statement. "This disease, he has told me, spares no age group and impacts millions of people around the world. It is the unwanted visitor at the door."

Sullenberger’s wife, Lorrie, shared with People that the diagnosis has not dimmed his strong demeanor.

"Just as he was the same steady person before and after Flight 1549, he is the same steady person now, before and after this diagnosis," she said. "That strength and steadiness is guiding us as a family."

"We’re supporting him on this journey that we now walk with so many other families. Though the future is uncertain, we continue to live our lives, have hope and find joy in the everyday."

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Flight 1549 first officer Capt. Jeff Skiles also commented on the news of his friend’s diagnosis.

"Sully is larger than life, even to me," Skiles told People. "He’s somebody I’ve always looked up to, and I think a lot of other people do, too. Hopefully, it’s going to progress slowly and he’s going to be able to create the kind of life going forward that he would be proud of."

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that Sullenberger had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the Miracle on the Hudson, which could have increased his risk.

"Age 75 is relatively late-onset," he told Fox News Digital. "PTSD doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer's because of changing brain chemistry and structure and sleep disruption."

Sullenberger reflected on how he has been a staunch advocate for travel safety, often addressing roadblocks in the aviation industry, fighting for increased pilot training and care.

Now, Capt. Sully, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, plans to continue serving the public by focusing on raising Alzheimer’s awareness.

"This new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service," he said. "And the answer is to speak up. It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they, too, can step forward."

"So many people told us after Flight 1549, that the outcome gave them hope," he went on. "Lorrie, my incredible partner of 37 years, says we can all use a little of that hope right now."

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Though the soon-to-be National Aviation Hall of Fame inductee’s memory of the past may be impacted, Sullenberger said his diagnosis "will not prevent me from looking forward to and appreciating our future. I will navigate this chapter with my wonderful family by my side."

"Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I would say that ‘courage can be contagious,’ and on that day it helped everyone band together to get everyone off that airplane successfully," he said.

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"Now we need that courage to battle this disease. I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together."

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia affecting memory, thinking and behavior, as described by the Alzheimer’s Association. It accounts for 60% to 80% of all dementia cases.

It is a progressive disease, meaning the symptoms gradually worsen over time. The memory loss is usually mild in early stages, but late-stage Alzheimer’s can include loss of ability to carry a conversation and respond to environmental factors.

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While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are treatments that can help slow symptoms. Newer, more effective therapies are on the horizon, experts say.

Certain lifestyle changes, including mental and physical activity, have been shown to help prevent the disease.

Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist, brain imaging doctor and founder of Amen Clinics in California, previously spoke with Fox News Digital about Alzheimer’s risk and management.

"Alzheimer's starts in your brain decades before you have any symptoms," he said. "So, a 59-year-old woman I diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease likely had negative changes in her brain in her 20s."

"It's really never too early to think about protecting your brain and your mind."

Amen listed 11 major protective factors that can help ward off Alzheimer’s. These include promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, and avoiding toxins like alcohol and drugs. Improving mental health, boosting immunity, getting adequate sleep and keeping diet and weight in check can also help reduce risk.

The doctor also recommends staying informed of hereditary diseases, maintaining a healthy hormonal balance and keeping the brain active in retirement.

Sullenberger's 2009 bestselling autobiography, "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters," co-written with Jeffrey Zaslow, was adapted into a 2016 film, "Sully," directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks.

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Could flesh-eating screwworms end up in your beef? USDA reveals risk level

The return of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s, has raised fresh concerns about whether it could threaten the nation's food supply.

Unlike other foodborne diseases like norovirus, E. coli and salmonella, which sicken millions of Americans every year, experts say the screwworm is not a threat to the food on our dinner tables.

"The U.S. food supply is not compromised by New World screwworm, which is an animal issue, but not a foodborne pathogen issue," Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, told Fox News Digital.

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"While screwworm infestation is an infection of live animals, it does not result in meat, milk or produce becoming contaminated."

Screwworms die during standard meat processing and cooking, according to Glatt.

While native to South America and the Caribbean, the screwworm migrated north through Central America and Mexico after a 2023 outbreak in Panama and Costa Rica, the CDC says.

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On June 3, health officials confirmed one case in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texa, the first detection in the U.S. since it was eradicated in the 1960s (excluding a localized outbreak in deer in the Florida Keys from 2016 to 2017), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Since early June, the USDA has reported 33 screwworm infections in animals in Texas and New Mexico, including cattle, goats and a pet dog.

The U.S. milk and food supply is routinely tested by regulatory agencies, according to Glatt.

"Animals used for human food production must pass inspection before and after slaughter to ensure that food safety and humane handling requirements are met," a USDA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

"An infestation or animal illness that makes meat unsafe for consumers will prevent the animal from entering the food supply."

If an animal at a slaughterhouse shows signs of illness, the meat inspection system overseen by the USDA isolates it from others and labels it a "U.S. Suspect," meaning it needs additional examination by a public health veterinarian, per USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service regulations.

If an infection is discovered prior to the animal reaching the slaughterhouse, a veterinarian will treat the animal and disinfect the wound to prevent worsening infection.

Any livestock infected with new world screwworm are to be quarantined until all wounds heal, according to the UDSA.

A screwworm is a fly, typically the size of a common housefly or slightly larger. It infects warm-blooded animals — usually livestock, wildlife and pets — and only rarely may infect people, the CDC states.

An infection starts when a female fly lays eggs after being attracted to the smell of a wound, but the opening can be as small as the size of a tick bite. One female may lay up to 3,000 eggs during her lifespan (about 10 to 30 days), per the CDC.

The eggs hatch into maggots that "screw" into the wound to feed. After about a week, the maggots fall to the ground, burrow in the soil and morph into adult screwworm flies.

"It spreads only when an NWS fly lays eggs in a wound, not through meat, poultry or dairy products," the USDA spokesperson said.

"It’s also important to note that people do not catch screwworm from other people, and they do not become infected by eating meat," Dr. Bobbi Pritt, professor and chair of laboratory medicine and pathology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told Fox News Digital.

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"Most people living in the U.S. are very unlikely to ever encounter this parasite."

The fly thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, while colder temperatures help limit its survival. Some researchers warn that climate warming could expand the areas where the insect can survive if it becomes established, although experts say the current outbreak has been driven primarily by its northward spread through Central America and Mexico.

The USDA is combating current U.S. outbreaks by deploying sterile male flies to mate with female flies using a method known as the sterile insect technique, which helped eradicate the infestation in the 1960s, per the USDA.

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Since female screwworm flies mate only once during their roughly month-long lifespan, those that breed with sterile males produce no viable offspring, causing the population to gradually die out.

In May 2025, the USDA announced a $21 million investment to renovate a sterile screwworm fly production facility in southern Mexico, with production expected to begin as early as summer 2026.

The agency also plans to spend $750 million on a new "fly factory" at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, which is expected to open by November 2027.

"In the rare cases of human infection, the symptoms that should prompt someone to seek medical attention include a non-healing wound with pain, redness and swelling that is getting worse, a sensation of movement or crawling in the wound and visible fly larvae in the wound," Pritt told Fox News Digital.

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Maggots should not be removed without medical assistance because attempting to do so can leave parts of the larvae behind and worsen the infection, per the CDC.

If any maggots fall to the ground, they should not be discarded in the trash, as this could spread the infestation. Instead, they should be placed in a leakproof container filled with alcohol to kill them, and a doctor should be contacted to safely remove the remaining maggots.

To protect against infection, the CDC recommends the following steps.

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Notable figures who died from the same heart condition linked to Lindsey Graham's death

Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death has renewed attention on a rare but often deadly cardiovascular emergency known as aortic dissection.

The cause of death was identified as an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement released by Graham's office on Sunday, citing preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

"It occurs when the layers of the aorta (the body's largest artery) come apart and the inner one tears," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, who did not treat Graham, told Fox News Digital.

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"It can come on in minutes or days and may be hard to recognize," added the doctor, noting that while dissections can evolve over time, symptoms often appear suddenly.

Graham, 71, is not the only notable figure to have died from an aortic dissection. Below are three other celebrities and public officials whose deaths were linked to the same life-threatening condition.

Actor John Ritter, best known for his role in the hit sitcom "Three’s Company," died from an aortic dissection on Sept. 11, 2003.

According to The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, the actor was taken to the hospital after experiencing symptoms later identified as a type A aortic dissection. The nonprofit, founded in his honor, later said Graham's death has brought "needed attention" to the condition.

Type A dissections involve the ascending (upper) aorta near the heart, which typically require emergency surgery.

At the time of his death, Ritter was filming the sitcom "8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter," co-starring Kaley Cuoco.

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The actor was initially treated for a presumed heart attack, but passed away that night as his condition worsened.

In a press release, The John Ritter Foundation (JRF) – a nonprofit founded in his honor to fund research and raise awareness for the condition – extended its condolences to Graham’s family.

"These deaths underscore that aortic dissections are not a rare cause of death," Meredith Ford O'Neal, CEO of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, shared with Fox News Digital. "Deaths due to aortic dissections are preventable if individuals at risk are identified and properly treated."

"We hope this moment encourages people to learn the warning signs of aortic dissection, which includes an increased risk for family members of individuals who have had an aortic dissection."

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died on Jan. 6, 2026, at age 65 from complications of an aortic dissection, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) was listed as another significant condition, and his death was ruled natural.

LaMalfa, who represented California’s First Congressional District, was taken into emergency surgery but passed away during the procedure, according to a statement from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

A month later, the Butte County Sheriff's Office confirmed to People that his cause of death was complications of an aortic dissection. Cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, was also listed as a significant condition.

"Growing Pains" actor Alan Thicke died from an aortic dissection on Dec. 13, 2016, at the age of 69.

Thicke reportedly experienced chest pain while playing hockey with his son and was taken to the hospital.

The Los Angeles County coroner later determined that Thicke died from a ruptured aorta caused by a type A aortic dissection, according to ABC News.

In a 2016 HCA Healthcare article, Nashville-based heart surgeon Dr. Grayson Wheatley reflected on Thicke’s "unfortunate" case.

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"I am sharing with you my expert thoughts based on limited information about Mr. Thicke’s case, but in light of an extensive career of treating hundreds of patients with aortic dissections, I can connect the dots in Mr. Thicke’s case from patterns that have emerged from treating similar patients with aortic dissections," he said.

Chest pain is often the first sign of a sudden tear or rip in the aorta, which can develop "within a few heartbeats," according to Wheatley.

"The pain associated with an aortic dissection is extreme," he said. "My patients describe it as so intense and sudden that it drops them to their knees. They literally fall to the ground and feel an intense tearing or ripping in their mid-upper back and/or chest."

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Once the dissection occurs, it becomes a "race against time" as the condition worsens, the doctor said.

Dr. Neel Mansukhani, a vascular surgeon at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, shared why this condition can become life-threatening so quickly.

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"The aorta is the main blood vessel that comes off of the heart, and it runs like a pipe through your body," he told Fox News Digital. "Smaller blood vessels branch off to go to all your internal organs, arms, legs and brain."

"The aorta itself has three layers," the surgeon went on. "A tear in the lining of the aorta causes those layers to separate. It’s similar to paint peeling off a wall. And that brings a lot of consequences depending on where the tear is."

An enlarged aorta or damage to the vessel wall from cardiovascular disease can increase the likelihood of an aortic dissection, although age and high blood pressure remain the leading risk factors, Mansukhani said.

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"As we get older, blood vessels can weaken, and over time the constant pressure of blood flow can make the wall of the aorta more vulnerable to a dissection," he shared.

Type A dissections are "immediately life-threatening," as they are "right by the heart," according to the doctor.

"It’s an emergency that usually needs surgery within 24 hours if a patient can tolerate that," he said. "A type B dissection is located further down from the heart. It can also be life-threatening, but does not usually need immediate surgery."

Although an aortic dissection often strikes without warning, maintaining cardiovascular health and monitoring conditions such as high blood pressure can help lower the risk, Mansukhani advised.

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Microwaved squishy toy explodes onto boy's face and chest amid viral trend, causing horrific burns

An Alabama teenager and his family are warning about the dangers of a viral social media trend after he suffered third-degree burns when a microwaved sensory toy exploded.

Eli Blackmon, now 13, was 11 when he saw videos on TikTok showing people putting NeeDoh squishy toys in the microwave in order to soften them.

The NeeDoh, a sensory toy similar to a stress ball, is described on the company’s website as a "gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough filled groovy glob."

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"I thought it was harmless because an adult tried it and nothing happened," he told Fox News Digital this week.

"When I took it out, my older sister held it for a few minutes, then I was playing with it. As soon as I squeezed it, it burst and the hot gel exploded onto my neck, chest and hands."

The hot gel caused third-degree burns on the boy’s neck and chest.

"At first I was just feeling frantic because I wasn’t sure what was going on because he was just screaming and not communicating," the teen’s mother, Fallon Blackmon, told Fox News Digital.

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"My husband is a fire medic and I work in emergency call taking, so I had a little knowledge of how serious it was. That obviously didn’t keep me from panicking on the inside."

She was not aware of this trend before her child's injury, she said.

"If I was aware, we would have had a conversation about not doing it."

Eli Blackmon recalled feeling extreme pain after the injury.

"I thought I was going to die. I kept telling my parents, ‘I don’t want to die, I’m sorry,’ and I that I loved them."

Blackmon was transported by ambulance to the emergency department at the local children’s hospital, and was later sent to the burn unit for wound care and debridement.

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"With how severe the burn was, they would typically recommend skin grafts, but they wouldn’t consider it for him because of the risks to his airway," his mother said.

Blackmon had weekly visits with the burn unit for four months, during which the doctors scraped off dead skin and performed wound care.

"This was done with no pain meds or numbing, so all his follow-up appointments were very painful," Fallon Blackmon said.

"Once the wound started to heal and the scarring began, they had to do chemical burns because he was developing granulation tissue."

The teen also developed a rash from the bandages, which quickly turned into a staph infection.

"Another issue was that the burn was pulling fluids from his body, and this caused severe lower GI issues for months," his mother said.

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Blackmon, who is a jiu-jitsu athlete, missed months of training and competing due to the injury. The family also faced thousands of dollars worth of hospital bills, doctor bills and wound care supplies over the four-month care period.

Now, the teen and his mother aim to help prevent other families from going through the same ordeal.

"If you purchase these types of toys, please just mention this trend and not to do it," she urged parents. "Even if they don’t have social media, kids in school are hearing it from other kids."

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Today, Blackmon attends to his scar each day so that it doesn’t cause any issues with neck mobility.

"I have to do stretches and moisturize and massage it daily," he said.

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"It hasn’t really changed my confidence because all my friends and family are very supportive and tell me my scar is cool."

To other kids who may be thinking about participating in this social media trend, Blackmon’s advice is simple: "Don’t do it! It’s stupid! It causes so much pain and other problems."

"Actually, just don’t do any trends on TikTok, even if you think they are harmless," he added. "Talk to your parents."

Blackmon’s mother agreed, noting that sharing the story and receiving negative criticism from adults online would be worth preventing another child from being "scarred for life" and experiencing something so traumatic.

A spokesperson for TikTok USDS Joint Venture previously shared with Fox News Digital that any content that "promotes dangerous behavior" and may lead to serious injury is considered a violation of the platform's Community Guidelines. The company claims that it immediately removes these videos when they are found.

Fox News Digital reached out to the manufacturer of NeeDoh requesting comment.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/m7C0W2G

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