Eating Snow

What would Canadian winters be without outdoor adventures in the snow? For our children it is a right of passage to make snow castles, lie on the ground and make snow angels, fill school yards with snow people and eat cold, fluffy white snow as it falls from the sky and lands on our tongues or to make snow cones drizzled with sweet syrup.

Have we ever stopped to think if it’s safe to eat snow? After all as parents we tell our children to “never eat yellow snow” but what about white snow? Surly it’s clean. But how do we determine if it’s safe?

It is recommended snow not be consumed as it is a potential source of heavy metals, toxins, bacteria and viruses. This is even more so in large cities with traffic, construction, and industry adding pollutants to the environment. Pollutants collect in snow as it falls and continue to collect as it lies on the ground.

As a parent it may be difficult to stop your children from eating snow, but ensuring that large quantities are not consumed is best. After all we are Canadian and we love our snow.