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| | | We all know not to eat the yellow (or brown) snow. But what about the white stuff? Below, registered dietitian Annie Hibbs offers some valuable pointers. | | | | | | | Careful out there!
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
November 27, 2025 • 2.5 min read | | | |  | | | | Q: | All right — is it safe to eat snow or what? | | | A: | First off, it's true that snow can contain contaminants. As water freezes, it encapsulates particles in the air, which may include substances and pollutants like pesticides, mercury, black carbon from wood-burning stoves, dirt, and other potentially harmful chemicals. There's no way to know for sure how contaminated snow is without bringing it into a lab for testing.
But remember that you're regularly exposed to these same contaminants through the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the food you eat.
Still got the ick? Stick to this rule: Only eat snow after it's been snowing for a while. Both rain and snow help clean the air by bringing contaminants down to the earth. So the longer it's been snowing, the more "scrubbed" the air is of these particles. Snow that's been falling for hours would potentially have fewer contaminants than the first falling snow.
Here are some other safety tips when it comes to eating snow: - Avoid old snow: The longer it's been sitting there, the more time it's had to absorb contaminants.
- If it looks dirty, don't eat it: Common sense, people!
- Be cautious with urban snow: Levels of contaminants are going to be higher in more densely populated areas compared to rural, non-industrial spaces.
- Don't eat snow on a windy day: Especially if you're in an open space where dirt is easily kicked up into the snow.
- Avoid snow that's close to roads or has recently been plowed: In addition to dirt, it may also contain chemicals like magnesium chloride.
- Never eat snow in place of drinking water: This can increase your risk of hypothermia by lowering your core body temperature.
| | | | | Annie Hibbs, Registered Dietitian | | | Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.) | | | | | | | | What we're digesting | | 🚩 Understanding online doctor ratings and how to spot red flags. It's essential to consider certain factors. | | 🫐 13 snack ideas for those who live with ulcerative colitis. Options may include melon, Greek yogurt, hummus, some cheeses, and crackers. | | 👀 The short- and long-term outlook for people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Many subtypes are often curable. | | 🧴 The 9 best shampoos for thinning hair. We curated our list by looking at current research and customer feedback. | | | |   | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | snowmen.️ | | | | |
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