uniladtech homepage
  • News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Doctor explains what happens to your body if you eat a silica gel packet everyone thought was 'literal poison'

Home> Science

Published 09:52 14 Apr 2026 GMT+1

Doctor explains what happens to your body if you eat a silica gel packet everyone thought was 'literal poison'

It's one of the most misunderstood warnings

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

With curiosity around food safety becoming more popular and TikTok trends having previously led to hospitalisations, understanding what everyday items do to the body has intrigued the minds of many.

With even coffee having its toxic limit on the body, a doctor has provided an answer to something that has haunted many of us growing up.

Anyone who has ever opened any kind of package has likely seen the small white packets inside.

Silica gel packets can be a choking hazard (Rosendo Serrano Valera/Getty)
Silica gel packets can be a choking hazard (Rosendo Serrano Valera/Getty)

Advert

They're called silica gel packets, and while they come with a bold 'DO NOT EAT' warning on the side, it seems few still understand their purpose or what happens if they're accidentally consumed.

DoctorYoun is a medical expert who runs a popular YouTube channel covering everything from trending cosmetic procedures to the effects of cold plunge therapy.

Now, he's addressing what happens if you eat a silica gel packet.

"What happens if you eat a silica gel packet that says 'do not eat'?" DoctorYoun started off in the video.

He went on to explain that these packets are 'put into shoe boxes, bags and pill containers' and are designed to 'absorb moisture' and prevent mould and spoilage in packaged goods.

The packets are filled with silicone beads which Dr. Youn says are 'technically harmless' if you swallow them, but it turns out the warning label has nothing to do with the beads' toxicity.

The real danger lies in the risk of choking from the packet.

"But if a dog or a child swallows a packet, they can choke on it," the doctor explained.

"So, technically eating one of these packets can lead to death."

The YouTuber is certainly putting viewers' fears to rest, as many held the long-held childhood belief that they could kill you if consumed.

"As a kid I thought it was literally poison and I would die if I had even a little bit, it was terrifying," one user replied.

"I literally didn't even want to touch these as a kid. I literally thought they were so poisonous," another added.

A third user commented: "I never knew I needed an answer to this until I saw this".

A fourth viewer claimed: "When you're too old to eat random things but still curious".

What to do if you ingest silica gel

According to WebMD, if you or your child accidentally swallows silica gel, it's important to 'drink plenty of water to help it pass through' and keep an eye out for any developing symptoms.

They advise seeking medical attention only if the beads are blue or pink, vomiting is persistent, you're experiencing stomach pain, or you're unable to pass stool.

Featured Image Credit: pavlofox / Getty
Health
Youtube
TikTok

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • SCIEPRO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    NASA officially kills Mars mission leaving goal wide open for China

    The mission would be the first time ever Martian samples are brought back to Earth

    Science
  • Sebastian Condrea / Getty
    10 hours ago

    Doctor reveals major impact cannabis has on male sperm

    It could cause more damage than you might think

    Science
  • Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images
    11 hours ago

    NASA responds after social media users notice bizarre missing part on Artemis 2's heat shield

    Footage appeared to show a hole in the Orion capsule

    Science
  • Peter Cade / Getty
    13 hours ago

    Daily phone habit increases risk of hemorrhoids by 46 percent as global cases rise

    It's linked to one time-wasting habit

    Science
  • Disturbing thing that happens to your body if you stop eating for seven days
  • Everything that happens to your body when you use a sauna