The Bitter Truth About Nintendo Switch Cartridges: A Taste Test Reveals a Surprising Safety Feature

A recent TikTok video by The Verge has gone viral after the author taste-tested Nintendo Switch game cartridges. The Verge, known for its tech reviews, discovered that Nintendo adds a bitter chemical, denatonium benzoate, to its cartridges to prevent accidental ingestion by children. "It's the same chemical added to antifreeze," explains The Verge in the video. The experiment involved tasting cartridges from different eras, including the original Switch, the Switch 2, and the Nintendo DS, revealing a difference in bitterness. The older cartridges seemed to have less of the chemical. This video highlights the often-overlooked safety features in everyday products and has sparked discussion about child safety and product design. The video's popularity underlines the public's interest in unusual experiments and behind-the-scenes details of familiar products.