Would You Notice? TikTok Influencer Swallows Glass From Straw Without Realising

A chilling TikTok story has reignited debate around reusable glass straws after an influencer claimed she accidentally swallowed a shard of broken glass — only realising something was wrong once it was already too late.

Another day, another internet-induced body horror moment.

The video, shared by content creator Breezie O’Brien, quickly went viral after she described drinking from her reusable glass straw and suddenly feeling “something solid” slide down her throat. Moments later, she noticed a piece of the straw was missing.

Things escalated fast. According to O’Brien, a forceful burp soon followed — and with it, blood in her mouth. She immediately headed to hospital.

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Doctors performed CAT scans and told her the shard had already moved beyond her stomach. She was advised to monitor for bleeding and wait for the glass to pass naturally. Once home, O’Brien said she would no longer recommend glass straws and was in the process of removing her earlier TikTok Shop promotion for the product.

South African lifestyle platform SurgeZirc SA spoke to Dr Zulu, an emergency physician, about what this viral scare means for everyday users of reusable straws.

Glass Straws Under Fire: What Can Go Wrong?

Glass straws may look chic and eco-friendly, but experts warn they require more care than many people realise.

“Just like any glass instrument, whether cup or bowl or whatever, you probably need to be aware of the condition of the glass,” Dr Zulu told SurgeZirc SA.

“The straw tends to be a relatively thin glass structure. We’ve got some at home, and they rattle around in the dishwasher and inside the drawer. So it’s not terribly uncommon for one of them to get broken or where it could become even more dangerous [and] just get chipped.”

That’s where the real danger lies. A small chip can be easy to miss, especially once the straw is already sitting in a drink — potentially leading to an incident like O’Brien’s.

Are Glass and Metal Straws Actually Dangerous?

While the story is enough to make anyone rethink their reusable straw drawer, medical experts say there’s no evidence of a sudden spike in straw-related injuries.

“There’s not a ton of specific data on glass straws, but straws of all types bring in about 1,000 Americans to emergency departments every year,” Dr Zulu told SurgeZirc SA. “To me, the two highest risk are metal and glass straws.”

Metal straws can cause mouth injuries, while glass straws pose risks of breakage, cuts and accidental ingestion. South Africa sees a small but steady number of similar incidents annually, though they remain rare.

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The takeaway? The risk isn’t zero — but it’s also not a reason to panic.

Sip Smart: How to Use Reusable Straws Safely

Experts agree that most of the danger can be avoided with regular checks and proper care.

“If you’re using glass straws: Good for you. Just make sure that you inspect it, make sure it’s fully intact (that there’s no sharp edges) because if there’s a crack or chip, that itself can be sharp enough to cut and cause an injury to your lips, mouth and tongue,” Dr Zulu told SurgeZirc SA.

Using a straw-cleaning brush that fits correctly is also key, as forcing the wrong size through the straw can create tiny cracks over time.

Dr Zulu is even more direct: “If there is any visibility of any damage or concern, throw it away. Don’t use anything that has any damage to it because, like anything glass, a small crack or a small deformity can just be the beginning of an overall failure of the device.”

Bottom line? Reusable straws aren’t the villain — neglect is. A quick inspection before sipping could save you from a very unpleasant hospital visit.

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