#What Happens If You Eat Silica Gel? Is It Dangerous?

Silica gel usually comes in those little packets that are marked ‘Do Not Eat.‘ They can be found inside beef jerky packets, new backpacks, or a shoebox. Are they really dangerous to eat? What’s the worst that can happen?

Silica gel packets are normally put with/inside products that wouldn’t benefit from having excess moisture in them. They absorb up to 40% of their weight in moisture and bring down the overall humidity of the container they’re in.

It might not sound to harmful, but what does it do to your body?

How Dangerous Is Silica Gel?

Silica gel is nearly harmless outside of the body, which is it’s used with the products you buy. Silica is the same material found in Quartz, and it’s essentially porous sand.

Eating one packet may not kill you, but the side effects that come with that one packet aren’t worth it. As soon as you empty the packet into your mouth, the moisture is absorbed from every part of your mouth and tongue. If there is still moisture left in your throat, that will be absorbed as you swallow.

Everything will feel incredibly dry, and from there you may suffer from dry eyes, sore throat, and an upset stomach.

How quickly you recover depends on how much you eat, and a visit to your doctor definitely wouldn’t hurt.

You shouldn’t try to eat silica gel. There isn’t really a reason why you would ever need to.