A 33-year-old British truck driver required emergency treatment after consuming a large amount of gelatin candy in a relatively short period.

Reports stated that Nathan Remington, a truck driver from Yorkshire, ordered a 3-kilogram pack of gelatin candy after craving it intensely. After consuming 10,461 calories worth of the candy in just three days, he soon began experiencing severe physical symptoms. He was admitted to the emergency room suffering from severe abdominal pain, sweating, high blood pressure, and cold sweat.

Initially, the medical team suspected food poisoning, but further tests revealed unusually high levels of gelatin in his digestive system. After several examinations, the man was diagnosed with acute diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches called diverticula form in the colon wall, causing infection or inflammation. Specialists explain that consuming large amounts of certain ingredients, like gelatin, may increase the risk of bowel movement issues and blockage. The most common symptom of diverticulitis is severe, persistent pain in the lower left abdomen. This pain is distinctly different from typical indigestion or constipation and usually lasts more than a day, worsening gradually. Some patients may experience bloody or mucous stools, and if symptoms worsen, there is a risk of colon perforation, which can lead to peritonitis.

In the driver’s case, the “Audity” website reported that doctors immediately stopped oral intake and started intravenous fluid therapy. The driver remained in the hospital’s intensive care unit for six days due to fever and severe abdominal pain. Fortunately, he fully recovered but is unlikely to consume gelatin candy for a very long time.