It feels like we shouldn’t have to tell you this, but there’s no reason to put a Switch cartridge in your mouth. Games are quite expensive with many Nintendo Switch 2 games getting a price hike to $80. Speaking of the Switch 2 and putting cartridges in your mouth, Nintendo uses a bitterant, likely denatonium benzoate, to stop you from making that not-smart choice.
The use of this substance, which tastes horrible, is to keep people from choking on a Switch 2 game cartridge. That would be a really terrible reason to have to go to the emergency room.
While some you may not be tempted to do this as an adult, there are people who let their intrusive thoughts take over. And if you have kids or dogs, there’s nothing like a horrible tasting chemical to deter them from eating something they shouldn’t.
GameSpot spoke to Nintendo technical director Takuhiro DohtaOpens in a new tab, who didn’t confirm nor deny that denatonium benzoate is what is on the cartridges. However, he did say that if you put one in your mouth, you’ll spit it out. You probably shouldn’t test that statement.
“We don’t want anybody to be at risk of any unwanted consumption,” Dohta said. “We have indeed made it so that if it enters your mouth, you’ll spit it out.”
Unless you’re trying to go viral on social media and abuse your tastebuds, do not lick or put a Switch 2 game cartridge in your mouth because it has a terrible taste. Please find another way to gain followers.
