A viral TikTok trend featuring cucumbers has resulted in serious injuries for some participants, capturing widespread attention and concern among users. One notable case involved an Australian woman who had to visit urgent care following her participation in the trend.
The trend, popularized by TikTok user Logan, who refers to his followers as his "Cucumber Community," involves creating unique cucumber salads by slicing the vegetable using a mandolin—a kitchen tool known for its sharpness. Logan has amassed over 5.2 million followers and his videos showcase millions of views as he prepares these salads with flair.
Despite its popularity, the trend has attracted warnings from health and safety advocates. Recently, fitness influencer Bec Hardgrave shared her cautionary tale after she sliced her hand on the mandolin, leading to her urgent care visit.
“I couldn’t post the clip on TikTok because I didn’t want the video to get flagged, but after I sliced my hand, I regretted trying the recipe,” Bec recalled candidly. The cut was severe enough to be deemed too wide for stitching by medical professionals.
Doctors advised Bec, “If I had brought the skin with me, he could have stitched it on my hand.” Instead, she now faces the frustrating wait for her injury to heal on its own.
Bec highlighted her unawareness of the finger guard included with her $12 mandolin from Kmart and advised others contemplating the cucumber preparation to either avoid the slicer or use the guard. This caution echoes the broader need for awareness surrounding kitchen safety, particularly when it involves sharp instruments like mandolins.
Following this incident, Logan has attempted to address the safety concerns by posting more videos demonstrating how to use the mandolin properly. Strikingly, he hasn’t shown himself using the finger guard, which could help prevent injuries like Bec’s.
Adding to the alarm, other TikTokers have shared similar safety tips and their own unfortunate experiences with the cucumber trend. These shared stories highlight the potential dangers, leading some users to reconsider their culinary experiments with mandolins.
The popularity of this trending cucumber preparation reflects broader social media phenomena, where sharing food experiences can lead to both culinary joy and unexpected hazards. With the rapid spread of TikTok trends, creators and followers alike may want to prioritize safety as they explore the latest culinary fads.
While the cucumber trend is meant to inspire creativity and fun, the physical risks can’t be overlooked. Enthusiasts are reminded to practice caution with kitchen tools, ensuring their explorations don’t come at the expense of their health.
