logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
13m 29s

Feel the burn: Why does spicy food hurt ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

South Korea’s Buldak noodles are super spicy - and Denmark’s food regulator has now recalled some types of them, saying they could cause "acute poisoning". The company behind the noodles says there are no quality issues. They’re used in extreme food challenges that often go viral online. So we decided to try them ourselves and they were FIERY!

The BBC’s Health and Science Correspondent, James Gallagher, explains why spicy food can make us feel all hot and bothered, how to combat the side effects, and takes us through some common myths about spice.

And one of our BBC colleagues, Akwasi Sarpong, tells us how a tiny bit of extremely hot sauce caused some drama at work.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams with Benita Barden Producer: Emily Horler Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Up next
Oct 10
Is the war in Gaza over?
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire, arranged by US President Trump. Under the agreement Hamas will release all Israeli hostages, alive and dead, and Israel will release Palestinian prisoners in exchange. Israeli forces are expected to partially withdraw from Gaza, and hu ... Show More
11m 20s
Oct 9
How yaba swept across East Asia
The Golden Triangle, a border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos is the world’s most active production zone for synthetic drugs like methamphetamine. Synthetic drugs are made from chemicals, instead of plants. But yaba - which has been around for decades and is a mix of caffein ... Show More
8m 56s
Oct 8
China’s renewable energy takeover
Renewables are now the world’s leading source of electricity and China has boosted its solar and wind capacity more than the rest of the world combined. But it’s also one of the world’s biggest polluters and is thought to be behind 30% of global emissions. So what's behind the co ... Show More
8m 54s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2022
Spice, Spice, Baby! Why Some Of Us Enjoy The Pain Of Spicy Foods
Today, we talk about spicy food and its intersection with pleasure and pain as part of our "Taste Buddies" series — Short Wave's ode to "taste." In this episode, Host Emily Kwong talks to food reporter Ruth Tam and researchers Julie Yu and Nadia Byrnes about the science behind ou ... Show More
14m 15s
Oct 2023
Why are spices delicious?
CrowdScience listener Kristine from Wisconsin in the USA wants to know why herbs and spices taste so good to so many of us. She’s intrigued to know if there's evidence that herbs and spices can keep us healthy. Anand Jagatia visits the historic naval city of Portsmouth in the UK, ... Show More
27m 4s
Apr 2024
What’s Wrong With India's Processed Food Industry?
Alarmed by recent reports of questionable ingredients in baby food, protein powders, and even masalas, The Morning Brief podcast delves into the state of India's processed food industry and its product safety system. Host Kiran Somvanshi dissects the issue with Dr. Arun Gupta, co ... Show More
31m 34s
Apr 2023
Watch Before You Eat
A recent social media influencer video about the sugar content of Bournvita caused an uproar. Influencer Revant Himatsingka withdrew the video after receiving a legal notice from the firm that owned the health drink brand, which rejected claims that it had a high sugar content. A ... Show More
33 m
Jun 2023
All You Can Eat: Bay Area Hot Sauces, from Salsa to Sambal
Watery eyes, a runny nose, quick, desperate breaths: all signs of you may have shaken out, purposefully or not, a few too many dashes of hot sauce. Despite the pain that may come, people can’t seem to get enough of fiery sauces. This is particularly true in the Bay Area, where sp ... Show More
57m 48s
Mar 2021
World Questions: Covid-19 and information
World Questions tackles the global issue of Covid-19: not just the disease itself but the information surrounding the pandemic. What should we have known and what questions should have been asked? Sharing information - and understanding the basis of the decisions of the scientist ... Show More
49m 28s
May 2022
The hot sauce sensations
Hot sauce can inspire fervent passion in its devotees. It’s a global obsession that translates to billions of dollars of sales a year. But with so many on the market, how do you create a taste that becomes a global hit? In this programme, Ruth Alexander explores the origin storie ... Show More
27m 30s
Feb 2022
The online food fighters
Social media is full of fake news about food. Fad diets, cure-all superfoods, demonised ingredients, made-up health scares – you’re never more than a few clicks away from unreliable nutritional information. In this episode, Ruth Alexander meets two people trying to take on those ... Show More
28m 7s
Nov 2021
The 'Nu' Variant
'Nu' variant, new concern. Scientists are closely watching a new variant of coronavirus circulating in southern Africa, nicknamed the 'nu' variant. The BBC’s Health and Science Correspondent, James Gallagher, tells Adam what the experts are telling him. So how worried should we b ... Show More
36m 37s
Oct 2023
Pills vs Potions: The LiverDoc’s Argument Against ‘Alternate’ Medicine (Part 1)
The debate about the efficacy of Ayurveda versus Allopathy is not new. But this time it is playing out in the courtroom. Himalaya Wellness Corporation, a leading herbal health and personal care company, has in its suit stated that it has lost business due to defamatory allegation ... Show More
36m 32s