TikTok is filled with great recipes for pastas, salads and seasonally-themed
snacks, but there’s one recipe ruling the algorithm that we didn’t bet on -- snow
cream.
In trending videos, such as this one by Magnolia Collective,
step-by-step instructions take you through the process of collecting a bowl of snow, sweetening, then flavoring it into a dessert. But, should we really be eating a bowl of snow?
Isn’t snow filled with pollution and chemicals?
Snow, as pure white as it looks, is not the cleanest stuff
out there (and we’re not just talking about yellow snow). Scientists say
that snow basically acts like an air purifier, grabbing things out of the
atmosphere like sulfates, nitrates, formaldehyde and mercury. It can have
traces of carbon from coal-fired plants and wood-burning stoves.
Because the first part of snow fall is busy cleaning the
air, scientists say that you should grab freshly fallen snow from the end of a
storm, after the air has been sanitized a bit.
Other things that show up in tested snow are pesticides in both
national parks and backyards. Despite all of this, scientists say you don’t
need to swear off snow cream all together -- just eat a little bit, as most
chemical levels are below what’s allowable in our drinking water (ew, right?).
If conditions are windy, you are a bit worse off, since you're likely
to have a mix of dirt and snow. The same goes for plowed snow, which can
contain asphalt and magnesium chloride -- not fit for human consumption. Lastly,
if you live in the city and there’s lots of traffic, snow can absorb gasoline exhaust -- also pretty gross.
Stick to suburban or rural areas for cleaner, edible snow. Leaving a bowl out mid-storm will ensure the safest collection.
Bottom line: don't go nuts and eat that snow cream banana split. Be aware of where and when your snow is coming from.
If you want a viral vegan version, check out Alexis Nikole’s recipe:
TL; DR: Snow is safe to eat in small amounts, but choose
freshly fallen snow collected at the end of a storm in a clean bowl.