Does Kylie Jenner’s “Cutting Jelly” Actually Work? What Gastroenterologists Are Saying About the Viral Trend

Kylie Jenner is no stranger to sparking a digital frenzy with a single post, but her latest “routine” staple has fans and health experts raising more than just an eyebrow. The billionaire beauty mogul recently took to TikTok to rave about Foodology’s “Cutting Jelly.” The cutting jelly is a viral Korean supplement that promises to “debloat” and “cut” cravings. Yet beneath the ruby-red, pomegranate-flavored gel lies a cocktail of ingredients that has sparked a wave of medical warnings and a fierce debate over the ethics of celebrity-led wellness trends.

The video, which Jenner shared earlier this month, shows her prepping for a “last fitting” before a high-profile event while wearing a skin-tight latex dress. “I’ve added a new favorite to my routine: pomegranate-flavored cutting jelly,” she told her millions of followers, holding up the slim plastic packets. Jenner described the product as “not a typical jelly,” emphasizing its use for “digestion” and “debloating” as she expressed a goal to “snack less for the new year.” 

While the clip featured Jenner ostensibly trying the product, eagle-eyed viewers noted that the camera repeatedly cut away immediately after she took a bite. This detail fueled skepticism among commenters.

The product, often dubbed “Korean Ozempic” in viral circles, has exploded across TikTok. Typical videos feature creators in their cars or kitchens, waving the gelatinous strips and claiming they achieved dramatic muscle definition and a total loss of “food noise” within weeks. However, the reality behind the “trembling ruby-red prism” may be far less magical. Many users have described the experience not as a gentle wellness boost, but as a harsh “clean out” effect.

The “Carb-Blocking” Myth

Kylie Jenner. Screenshot from kyliejenner via TikTok. Used under fair use for commentary.

The allure of the cutting jelly lies in its claim to “block” carbohydrates from turning into fat, a promise largely attributed to its primary active ingredient: Garcinia cambogia. TikTok creator @tiffytummy recently described the tropical plant as a “secret fruit” that performs this metabolic magic. But according to Dr. Chethan Ramprasad, a professor of gastroenterology at Harvard, this is more of a “marketing hook than a physiologic reality.”

“The short answer is, no, you cannot effectively block carbs,” Dr. Ramprasad explained in a recent assessment. He noted that while plant extracts like white kidney bean or Garcinia cambogia are marketed as enzyme inhibitors that prevent calorie absorption, the real-world effect in humans is “minimal to non-existent.”

Instead, the “weight loss” users might experience is often the result of basic bulking agents like fiber and water, or the “clean out effect” caused by sugar alcohols like D-Sorbitol. Essentially, the product acts more like a glorified laxative than a metabolic breakthrough.

Screenshot from Kylie Jenner’s official Instagram page, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.

The Kardashian-Jenner family is known for this specific brand of controversy. For over a decade, the family has faced backlash for promoting products like “Fit Teas,” appetite-suppressing lollipops, and meal-replacement shakes. Critics argue that Kylie’s latest endorsement is a regression to an era of “irresponsible” advertising.

One Reddit user summarized the frustration: “It’s so irresponsible for celebrities to advertise supplements and laxatives… there are so many impressionable kids who will take this as gospel and it may actually cause them serious harm.” 

Health Risks and Regulatory Bans

While the internet debates the ethics of the ad, health agencies are sounding the alarm on the safety of the ingredients themselves. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) recently issued a stark alert, strongly advising the entire population against consuming food supplements containing Garcinia cambogia.

The agency cited cases of acute hepatitis, including fatal cases, in individuals who consumed the plant, sometimes even those with no prior history of medical issues.

In the United States, the regulatory history of Garcinia cambogia is equally checkered. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the withdrawal of the ingredient from the popular Hydroxycut range following reports of liver, muscle, and cardiac damage. 

While the ingredient remains legal in many U.S. supplements today, the FDA-Medwatch database has continued to receive dozens of adverse reaction reports. 

Screenshot from @foodology.global, via Instagram.com. Used under fair use for editorial commentary.

The risks aren’t limited to the liver. Research has identified links between Garcinia cambogia and psychiatric disorders, pancreatitis, and muscular damage. For those with sensitive stomachs or conditions like IBS, the D-Sorbitol and fiber content can lead to severe bloating, gas, and diarrhea. 

Also, the product is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers. The “food noise” that TikTokers claim the jelly silences is actually the body’s natural hunger cues being artificially suppressed or masked by the discomfort of a “harsh clean out.”

As the “cutting jelly” continues to trend, here is a breakdown of what is verified and what remains in the realm of online speculation:

• Confirmed Statements: Kylie Jenner officially endorsed Foodology’s “Cutting Jelly” on TikTok, calling it her “new favorite” for digestion and “debloating.”

• Medical Expert Consensus: Gastroenterologists, including Harvard’s Dr. Chethan Ramprasad, state that “carb-blocking” is a marketing myth and the product primarily functions through fiber-induced fullness or a laxative effect.

• Regulatory Warnings: ANSES in France has issued a public health alert against Garcinia cambogia due to risks of liver injury. The U.S. FDA previously forced its removal from Hydroxycut in 2009, but allows it in other supplements despite ongoing adverse reports. 

• Reported Side Effects: Users and medical databases have documented “harsh” bowel movements, stomach pain, diarrhea, and in rare cases, severe liver toxicity. Simply put, Garcinia-related liver toxicity may be rare, but when it occurs, it can be severe, leading to potential liver transplantation.

• What Remains Speculation: There is no peer-reviewed clinical evidence that “cutting jelly” provides a safe or “magical” solution to weight loss or “blocks” carbs in a way that significantly alters physiology.

Ultimately, for the millions of fans watching Kylie’s every move, the question of concern can no longer just be “Does it work?” but rather, “Is it safe?”