These days, many people like to go outside and grab some fresh fallen snow to make snow ice cream. And, we must admit, it does sound convenient to use real snow to make a snow cone. After our recent touch of snow here in North Carolina, the Hawaiian Shaved Ice team was wondering, “Is it actually safe to eat snow?”
Snow is primarily made of water, but scientists also note that snow can also contain pollutants from the atmosphere, as well as dirt and pesticides from the ground. One way to reduce the amount of pollutants in the snow you eat is to skip the first few hours of snowfall and gather snow after the “dirty” snow has been falling for a little bit. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the level of pollutants in snow is below the toxic level, so it’s generally a safe activity. However, you should clearly avoid snow that has been mixed with a lot of dirt or has been plowed.
For now, we’re off to check the forecast to see if there’s any more snow coming our way! And if not, we’re not worried because we always have our own shaved ice machines standing by!
