I had a bag of beef jerkey for lunch today. Granted, not the healthiest lunch in the world, but that’s not my question.
Inside the bag was a packet labeled “Oxygen Remover, Do Not Eat,” and the bottom of the bag contained the disclaimer “To enhance freshness and taste, this product is packed with an oxygen absorbent packet inside. This packet contains harmless non-toxic minerals, but should not be eaten.”
Now, what would happen if I ingested the packet? How much worse would it be for me than the 800mg of salt I probably just ate?
Hard to say. It’s possibly this product but the manufacturer is pretty coy about the contents. However, they fed it to rats and the rats didn’t die. (Really. Check out the FAQ.) That’s something.
The material safety sheet describes it as a black powder. I am wondering if it’s simply powdered iron, as in the hand warmers that you can get at outdoor stores. That would certainly reduce the oxygen content, although the heat byproduct may be a problem.
If it is iron, then it might cure your anemia, but that’s about it.
I’ve opened one up, and it’s certainly not iron-based. Lots of little, plastic-looking clear beads. I would say silica-gel. I put them in a cup of water and they all starting “popping” as they absorbed a lot of water. Neat.
Housecleaning just emptied my trash. I’ll have to get another bag tomorrow. Not today, though, because I’d probably eat that bag of jerky, and I really don’t want to self-inflict a coronary. I don’t know if I have anemia though. My memory isn’t that good.
I have many packs of silica gel, though. Maybe I’ll pop some of them, though. You say it sounds like pop-rocks? Do I need to wear safety goggles?
Hm, why would a bag of beef jerky be “not the healthiest lunch in the world”? I would think it WAS the healthiest lunch in the world. Are you on a sodium-restricted diet?