# Is eating snot bad for you? (sorry) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662 "2001-11-10T19:46:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pezwookiee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@pezwookiee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezwookiee)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/1 "2001-11-10T19:46:32Z")
I’m sorry about the outward sophomoric feel to this question, but I believe there should be no question off limits in the battle against ignorance. Lots of kids (and some adults) have been known to eat mucus from their noses. And of course, it’s really gross and socially unacceptable and we tell kids (and some adults) not to continue this habit. But is it actually unhealthy? (Strange that no one eats ear wax, no?) ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/2 "2001-11-10T19:54:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pezwookiee \* > (Strange that no one eats ear wax, no?) That’s because earwax doesn’t taste good. Er. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/3 "2001-11-10T20:18:15Z")
Seeing as “snot” traps dust particles and all other such things that shouldn’t get into your lungs. Those become the “boogers”. As for not being good for you…well…they most likely won’t hurt you…unless you eat them in public of course. ---
**Author:** ![cheezit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@cheezit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/4 "2001-11-10T20:50:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sue Duhnym \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by pezwookiee \* > > (Strange that no one eats ear wax, no?) > > That’s because earwax doesn’t taste good. > > Er. > > 😃 \*\* O.K. Now that I have to clean coffee out of my brand new keyboard, can someone please tell me the easiest way to complete said task. :D:D [sub]Incidently, you’re right. It doesn’t taste good. I tried it once. :eek: [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/5 "2001-11-10T21:10:41Z")
Prolly not unhealthy. A lot of snot runs down your throat anyway–the famed post-nasal drip. As for the dust and grime in boogers–I suppose the stomach acid neutralizes it. ---
**Author:** ![Church\_Key\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Church\_Key\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Church_Key_Kid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/6 "2001-11-10T21:42:58Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally posted by pezwookiee > > (Strange that no one eats ear wax, no?) > > That’s because earwax doesn’t taste good. FWIW… one of my cats loves to eat human ear wax very much. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/7 "2001-11-10T21:54:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fatdave \* > \*\* > FWIW… one of my cats loves to eat human ear wax very much. 🙂 \*\* How in the heck did you find that out? Or is this one of those questions I’m better off not knowing the answer to? ---
**Author:** ![Church\_Key\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Church\_Key\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Church_Key_Kid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/8 "2001-11-10T21:56:59Z")
Well… after a binge of feeding my cat stuff like peanut butter (hilarious to watch…), things just naturally progressed… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-eating-snot-bad-for-you-sorry/92662/9 "2001-11-10T22:40:34Z")
whether you eat it or not it all drips down the back of your throat anyway.