Reese Witherspoon has ignited a fiery debate about the safety of eating snow after sharing a video of herself making a “Snow Salt Chococinno” on TikTok. The actress added salted caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, and cold-brewed coffee to the snow she had scooped off her covered grill, exclaiming, “Oh my gosh, it’s so good!” However, her snow treat experiment received a deluge of concerned comments, prompting Witherspoon to address the worries in not one, but three follow-up TikToks.
In her first follow-up video, Witherspoon microwaved the snow to produce clear water in an attempt to combat the “dirty” snow rumors. She explained that she wanted to enjoy the rare occurrence of snowfall, stating, “So, we’re kind of in the category of ‘you only live once,’ and it snows maybe once a year here. I don’t know. Also, I want to say something — it was delicious.”
While snowfall recipes have been flooding social media platforms like TikTok, scientists have long debated the safety of consuming snow. A study conducted in 2016 revealed that snow in urban areas can absorb toxic substances from car exhaust. Dr. Parisa Ariya, the study’s author, warned against eating snow in urban areas due to the potential absorption of pollutants. However, she also emphasized that she did not wish to be alarmist.
In 2017, Romanian researchers found that very fresh snow has minimal bacteria, making it safer to consume. Study author Istvan Mathe clarified that he was not recommending eating snow but stated that consuming a small amount would not cause illness.
Experts recommend avoiding yellow snow and snow that has been plowed as it may contain sand and chemicals. Environmental scientist Staci Simonich discovered significant pesticide levels in high-elevation snow in some US national parks but assured that the concentrations were low and the one-time dose from eating a handful of snow was not a health risk.
Madelyn Fernstrom, NBC News’ health and nutrition editor, believes that consuming freshly fallen snow is generally safe. While she acknowledged that it is impossible to guarantee contaminant-free snow, research suggests that the levels of contaminants are minimal and do not exceed those found in the atmosphere.
The debate surrounding the safety of eating snow continues, with Witherspoon’s video adding fuel to the fire. As snowfall recipes gain popularity on social media, individuals are left to decide whether they are willing to take the risk and indulge in this chilly treat. One thing is for sure, though — Reese Witherspoon’s “Snow Salt Chococinno” certainly looked delicious!