'Nobody Should Eat Cheetos': Woman Warns After Popular Snack Survives Massive House Fire

A viral TikTok video has sparked debate over the composition of ultra-processed snacks after a bag of Cheetos was filmed sitting unscathed amid the ruins of a massive house fire.

The video, posted by user @bongwadder, has surpassed 1.4 million views and shows a blackened, ash-covered kitchen in the aftermath of a 9 March blaze. Amidst melted ceilings and shattered glass, a single bag of Cheetos rests on a scorched counter, its bright orange contents apparently unaffected by the extreme heat.

The Viral Discovery: 'The Cheetos Survived'

In the clip, the creator pans across the wreckage of her best friend's home before settling the camera on the snack. 'Everything was destroyed,' she tells viewers. 'Ummm, just saying, the Cheetos survived. So maybe we... nobody should eat Cheetos.'

The visual contrast between the charred environment and the pristine snack bag prompted thousands of comments, ranging from dark humour to genuine concern. One user quipped, 'I need to build a house out of Cheetos,' while another suggested that 'overloading our bodies with Cheetos' might make humans flame-resistant.

The contrast was stark. Melted ceilings, blown-out windows, and charred furniture. The Cheetos, though, were nearly spotless. Could it be something about Cheetos that prevents it from burning down? Or was it just luck?

Are Cheetos Actually fireproof?

Despite the startling footage, fire safety experts and food scientists are quick to debunk the idea that Cheetos are fire-resistant. Experts say it's unlikely.

Cheetos consist of cornmeal, oil, cheese flavouring, and additives. Those ingredients are usually inflammable, rather than resistant. Actually, Cheetos are usually considered very easy to catch fire due to their high fat content. A simple internet search shows that Cheetos are easy to ignite and burn quickly when exposed to open flames.

In a YouTube video, lighting a single Cheeto can last almost a minute. Most fire safety tips remind against leaving snacks around an open fire. The notion that they would withstand heavy heat without damage is more of a myth or a factoid about the uneven heat flow in the fire. Some campers even use Cheetos as makeshift fire starters.

So why did this bag endure while the rest of the kitchen succumbed? It's entirely plausible that the Cheetos simply sat in a cooler zone, shielded just enough by position, airflow, or sheer chance to avoid ignition.

The packaging could be another contributing factor. The bag would have served as insulation, preventing direct contact with flames. Nevertheless, the snack is probably not fireproof. What makes Cheetos so good to eat also makes them too easy to light up and burn.

Internet Replied With Snickering Remarks

Netizens joked that they made houses out of Cheetos, or said their snacks withstood more catastrophes than others'. Some have questioned whether or not the Cheetos were Flamin'-hot, which have a spicy bite and are bright red.

'Orrr orrr hear me out ... we overload our body with Cheetos. And we are flame-resistant,' quipped one TikTok user. Some users posted accounts of how food had miraculously gone past mould or had been forgotten about for a long time, bringing in a bit of humour to it.

'I need to build a house out of Cheetos,' replied another user. 'This comes in my fyp while I'm eating Cheetos? Come on man!'

The fact that a snack was able to withstand a house fire may seem insignificant, but it gives rise to questions about the nature of fire and the materials we use in our day-to-day.

Uneasy Truth About Cheetos and Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs)

Cheetos are ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that undergo a series of industrial processes, often containing food additives, preservatives, artificial colours, and flavours. UPFs constitute up to 75% of the American diet and are associated with health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Although a lot of UPFs are junk food, they are not all as harmful. Others, such as yoghurts, whole-grain breads, and canned beans, are processed foods but are nutritious. The most important thing is to be moderate and, where possible, prefer minimally processed foods.

Why Are UPFs So Widespread?

UPFs are designed by manufacturers to be highly attractive with intense sensory experiences. They have a mixture of sugar, salt, and fat to trigger the reward centres in our brains. They are quicker to consume and less satiating, and that is why it is easy and common to overconsume. Moreover, they are inexpensive, convenient, and well-marketed foods.

Scientific studies associate excessive use of UPF with severe health issues, such as a higher risk of cancers, heart diseases, and mental health disorders. Processed meats are carcinogenic, and sugary beverages are known to increase blood sugar levels and cause weight gain, according to the World Health Organisation.

Although the fire-resistant Cheetos may seem like an amusing and interesting story, it does not imply we should turn snacks into armour. They consist of ingredients that are easy to burn. The moral of the story is to watch what we eat. The ability of certain foods to withstand neglect or even a disaster does not make them healthy.