While not quite as dangerous as eating Tide pods, people on the internet seem to be putting more non-food substances into their mouths and people have questions. (It's me, I have questions.) TikTokers are discovering that popular cosmetics brand Lush utilizes "edible" packing peanuts to ship its products and have taken to popping some right into their mouths.
That's right—some brands have replaced those those bouncy cheese doodle-shaped styrofoam nuggets that often accompany your more fragile shippables with a vegetable starch-based alternative and people are eating them. Back in 2017, Lush announced that its packing peanuts were 100% edible and now there's been a surge on social media of people putting that claim to the test.
But just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should. Delish reached out to experts to see what eating these peanuts really does to your body.
Are All Packing Peanuts Safe To Eat?
Picture us jumping up and down and waving our hands to scream "no!"
It's very important to note that not all packing peanuts are created equal. In fact, a majority of them are still made from styrofoam, which you do not want to eat. According to the National Capital Poison Center, although styrofoam is not toxic, it will not break down in your body and "should pass through the digestive tract and not cause any problems." However, there is the very real possibility of these becoming stuck in your esophagus, causing gagging or choking.
While styrofoam was largely the main producer of packing peanuts originally, many companies have shifted to a more environmentally-friendly packing method by switching to biodegradable materials, many of which are theoretically edible. These are a great option because they can be recycled or even composted. It's also easy to tell if your packing peanuts are biodegradable by running them under your faucet—biodegradable peanuts will disintegrate while styrofoam peanuts will remain intact. It's important to also note, though, that these are likely not produced in an environment that's been certified food safe.
What Are Biodegradable Packing Peanuts Made Of?
Many biodegradable packing peanuts use cornstarch, potato starch, vegetable oil, wheat starch, and other plant-based materials. Lush's peanuts in particular are made from potato starch. Nurse Practitioner at ThriveLab, Angelica McGough, DNP, MSN, explains that these ingredients are heated to a high level in order to create the packing material. When starch is heated, it undergoes something chemical called the Maillard reaction, which forms acrylamide, a known carcinogen.
Additionally, it's important to note that not all biodegradable packing peanuts are made from 100% edible materials. For example, some brands produce water-repellent biodegradable peanuts made out of recycled materials that are not recommended for consumption, so it's best to avoid chowing down if you aren't sure what you're packing peanuts are made of.
What Should You Know Before Eating Packing Peanuts?
Just because you happen upon packing peanuts that are biodegradable doesn't mean they are inherently safe to consume. As Dr. Larissa L. Garth, DMSc, MPH, MPAS, PA-C, explains, "Potato starch in its purest form has the potential to provide hormonal health benefits such as the feeling of postprandial satiety (fullness after eating), which could promote weight loss." However, she cautions that ingesting them can also cause abdominal pain, bloating, and increased flatulence. Sounds fun!
Additionally, as McGough notes, the heating process used to form these peanuts can cause be problematic, health-wise. "Many vegetable oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed excessively, contribute to an imbalance that promotes chronic inflammation," she notes. "Inhaling cooking fumes and consuming heated oils has been linked to lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer," she adds. (All cooking oils have different smoke points and that's why it's recommended to use different oils for different cooking methods.)
Add to that the acrylamide—a carcinogen known to cause endometrial and ovarian cancers—and it just isn't worth the risk of trying these out, even for a TikTok.
So even though some influencers on the internet might lead you to believe these Cheetos-textured puffs could be a great alternative to your favorite late night snack, I'd rather stick with the artificial dyes than opt for stuff that comes along with my Amazon packages!
