# Eating the 'Do-Not-Eat' Pack. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080 "2010-05-20T00:55:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/1 "2010-05-20T00:55:54Z")
Like many people, I probably come across an inordinate amount of silica gel packs. Those are those little packs that come with food, medicine, etc. And they are supposed to remove moisture. And yes, they all say “Do Not Eat”. I have two questions: (a) What would happen if you actually ate one of them? Would you get sick? Would basically nothing happen at all? And, (b) Have there been documented cases of people actually _eating_ them? I mean, why do they have to all say “Do Not Eat”? Has this ever really been a problem? This thread is **not** a joke (obviously). I really wonder about this, alot in fact. Thank you in advance to all who reply:) ---
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/2 "2010-05-20T01:16:31Z")
The universe re-boots back to the Big Bang. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/3 "2010-05-20T01:32:12Z")
My dog once bit through one of those freeze/heat packs, and suffered no ill effects, except he left cum-stain-looking stains all over our expensive cashmere throw. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/4 "2010-05-20T01:42:36Z")
Need answer fast? I will do anything in the name of science. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/5 "2010-05-20T01:45:13Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > Need answer fast? I will do anything in the name of science. I assume you’re joking. But if you’re serious, _please don’t!_ Yes, science must advance. But not in such a way that puts anyone at risk–even in just a small way:). ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/6 "2010-05-20T02:01:30Z")
silica gel is nontoxic ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/7 "2010-05-20T02:08:00Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > My dog once bit through one of those freeze/heat packs, and suffered no ill effects, except he left cum-stain-looking stains all over our expensive cashmere throw. They didn’t merely _look_ like cum stains… ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/8 "2010-05-20T02:12:27Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > silica gel is nontoxic [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silica_gel). ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/9 "2010-05-20T02:12:43Z")
> **[Fisher Scientific - MSDS](https://www2.atmos.umd.edu/~russ/MSDS/silicagel28200.html)** > [@](#): > > Caution! Causes respiratory tract irritation. Maycause skin irritation. May cause eye irritation. May cause digestivetract irritation. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/10 "2010-05-20T02:13:08Z")
I used to work at a vet clinic, and one day somebody brought in a dog who ate one of the things. I think one of the vets or techs called a poison control center and was told that there was no need to worry whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/11 "2010-05-20T02:27:11Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Those are those little packs that come with food, medicine, etc…I mean, why do they have to all say “Do Not Eat”?. Because they come with stuff that people do eat, like food, medicine, etc. When something is packaged in the same space as stuff meant to go into your mouth, and isn’t obviously inedible like, say, a coffee measurer, it’s prudent to have a warning. It’s not too far out there to think that someone might take it for a promotional free sample of some foodstuff, or a “sneak preview” of a new form of the medicine. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/12 "2010-05-20T02:35:22Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > silica gel is nontoxic > [@Duckster](#): > > [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silica_gel). [http://www.envirogel.co.uk/material\_safety\_datasheet\_blue.htm](http://www.envirogel.co.uk/material_safety_datasheet_blue.htm) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/13 "2010-05-20T03:35:21Z")
Since the question has been answered, I’ll add that if you pop open a packet or three and put it in a glass, then add a little water, it makes popping sounds just like pop rocks and makes a 5 year old girl giggle like there’s no tomorrow. (It won’t, however, make a nice gelatinous goo like I was hoping it would. We had to get out the superabsorbent crystals from the garden shed for that demonstration.) ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/14 "2010-05-20T03:52:18Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I mean, why do they have to all say “Do Not Eat”? Has this ever really been a problem? My best guess is because they look, at first glance, like a salt packet. It wouldn’t be improbable to have one of those things get separated from the product it originally came with, and end up in, say, your car’s glove box floating around with the pepper and ketchup packets saved from last week’s fast-food lunch. You might think it’s just another salt packet and put it on your fries! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/15 "2010-05-20T06:00:09Z")
> [@Chris\_Luongo](#): > > My best guess is because they look, at first glance, like a salt packet. > > It wouldn’t be improbable to have one of those things get separated from the product it originally came with, and end up in, say, your car’s glove box floating around with the pepper and ketchup packets saved from last week’s fast-food lunch. You might think it’s just another salt packet and put it on your fries! As I recall them, they’re a bit hard to open, but maybe I’m just a wimp. But it costs almost nothing to add the warning and it might have a profound impact, so why not? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/16 "2010-05-20T07:49:22Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > As I recall them, they’re a bit hard to open, but maybe I’m just a wimp. > > But it costs almost nothing to add the warning and it might have a profound impact, so why not? Some salt packets are hard to open, too. And if you’re the type that always has to use scissors… ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/17 "2010-05-20T09:05:31Z")
This thread is rather disappointing. I rather hoped that the answer would be “all the water will be sucked instantly from your body and you will turn into a desiccated husk blowing tumbleweedlike around your home”. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/18 "2010-05-20T09:24:55Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > This thread is rather disappointing. I rather hoped that the answer would be “all the water will be sucked instantly from your body and you will turn into a desiccated husk blowing tumbleweedlike around your home”. ☹ Sorry. Also, eating alum will not cause your face to cave in around a puckered mouth, and vanishing cream is not what you hope it is. (However, if you plan to rob a bank by stripping nude, slathering yourself in vanishing cream, and relying on the intimidation factor of a floating note and bag, I wish you the best of luck and representation. Especially if you are a lithe maiden and choose a bank with exceptional security cameras.) ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/19 "2010-05-20T09:51:57Z")
Silica is also used in foods and in cosmetics. It is basically inert, and ingested, it passes straight through. However, airborne fine jagged crystals of silica can lodge in the lungs and cause irritation and damage, possibly leading (eventually) to lung cancer. Silicosis is a lung disease caused by long-term silica exposure. Si ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080/20 "2010-05-20T10:34:42Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > This thread is rather disappointing. I rather hoped that the answer would be “all the water will be sucked instantly from your body and you will turn into a desiccated husk blowing tumbleweedlike around your home”. ☹ When a lot younger, on encountering a sachet of silica gel in a camera or something, that’s the sort of “danger” I did imagine it to be. :eek: Then again, it could be quite an experience: perhaps one would be revitalised as soon as it rained. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-the-do-not-eat-pack/540080.md?page=2)