I came across a comment about Rachael Ray saying that everyone should make their own taco seasoning mix instead of using store-bought packets because they are full of sodium and contain silica, the same stuff found in those ant-desiccant packets that say DO NOT EAT. First, the sodium stuff is so very tasty. It comes from the salt, and it is what makes the taco seasoning taste good. The question is, why do silica gel packets say “do not eat?” And, if silica cannot be eaten, why is it added to foods?
- Are Silica Gel Packs Poisonous?
- Why Are Some Silica Beads Blue?
- The Do Not Eat Warning Is Because Silica Beads Are A Choking Hazard
- What Happens If You Eat a Silica Packet?
- Silica in Taco Seasoning And Other Foods
- Silica Is Abundant In Our Diet and Our Bodies
- Silica Food Additives Appear To Be Safe
- How Much Silica Is In Our Bodies
I doubt you’d make a taco seasoning mix without salt, and therefore without sodium. And if you try one of those low-sodium brands, you’d probably want to add salt to it. But the silica, that sounds poisonous. Surely that shouldn’t be in our food.
Are Silica Gel Packs Poisonous?
The short answer is no, the silica gel anti-desiccant beads found in those little white packets are not poisonous, at least in and of themselves.
So, why the warning? For one thing, those little beads are not food. You could choke on them. And, they are meant to absorb moisture, so, theoretically, at least, if you ingested enough of them, you could dry up like a shriveled old raisin. But likely not.
Why Are Some Silica Beads Blue?
If you open up packets of silica gel beads, you’ll notice that some are clear but others have a striking blue color (see image below). This color comes from cobalt(II) chloride, which is used to help indicate when the silica is saturated, and cannot absorb any more moisture, at which point it turns pink. This is unlikely to be used in the little white paper packets, as such a visual indicator would do little good if you couldn’t see it. The blue beads are used in clear permeable containers.
The Do Not Eat Warning Is Because Silica Beads Are A Choking Hazard
There may be other chemicals present, as well, as pointed out on Mental Floss. But, just as the article says, the most probable reason for the warning is the same reason we see warnings on almost everything these days: The company that makes the packet is covering its butt and doesn’t want to be sued by some silly person who gags himself on a silica bead.
All this being said, please do not eat any silica gel beads! I also don’t want to be sued by a person who misconstrues this article as being me advising them to chow down on silica beads.
What Happens If You Eat a Silica Packet?
As above, the silica gel beads found in anti-desiccant packets are not toxic. If you eat a silica packet, the silica beads will probably pass through your digestive tract unchanged. However, there is no direct scientific evidence as to what happens if someone ingests silica gel packets as opposed to the silicon food additives used in tiny amounts in foods. When used as a food additive, silica absorbs moisture, as well, but we don’t ingest enough silica from food additives or from the silica naturally found in plant foods to cause any problem. The amount of silica in a gel packet, however, is far above the amount you’d normally take in. So, in summary, silica packets are not actually toxic, but you should NOT eat them just to find out what happens!
Silica in Taco Seasoning And Other Foods
Rachael Ray mentioned silica in taco seasoning mixes. Yes, silica is indeed an ingredient in some taco seasoning mixes, in the form of silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide is used in foods as an anti-caking agent and for other uses. In something like taco seasoning mix, it is to keep the powder from clumping together.
Another more common silica food additive is sodium aluminosilicate, which is used in baked goods, cake mixes, salad dressings, ice cream, processed cheeses, dried coconut, and table salt.
Silica Is Abundant In Our Diet
Silica is abundant in the Earth’s crust, making up 25% of it. Common minerals like quartz, feldspar, mica, and talc are all silicate minerals. An easy way to think of it, however, is simply to think of beach sand, the most common material of which is silicon dioxide. This sand is formed from broken-down quartz mineral.
Since silica is so common, it is present in pretty much all waters, and every plant and animal, including human tissues.
How Much Silica Is In Our Bodies?
Humans have around 100 grams of the mineral in the tissues of their bodies. This means that you are taking in silica in pretty much every food you eat, and even in the water you drink. The amount of silica you get from silica food additives added to food is minuscule in comparison to your overall intake.
The average intake of sodium aluminosilicate, which is water soluble, is around 0.3mg per kilogram of body weight, yet it has very low acute toxicity, and there is no evidence that it builds up in tissues.
Other insoluble or only slightly soluble silica compounds used in foods appear to be biologically inert, except for potassium and sodium silicates.
Silica Food Additives Appear To Be Safe
There are many silica compounds used directly in foods or that may come into contact with foods, such as from packaging. At this time, there is no reason to fear any health effects from these compounds in the amounts they are commonly used. There is little reason to suggest that no one should buy store-bought taco seasoning because it contains silica, nor to suggest that the public avoid other silica-containing processed foods.
