Yes, you can eat a little bit of clean, fresh snow, but there are some important safety limits and situations where you should avoid it.
When it is generally safe
Small amounts of untouched, white, fluffy snow that has fallen for a while (not the very first flakes) are unlikely to cause health problems for most healthy adults and older kids. Experts note that this kind of snow still contains tiny particles and microbes, but usually only in trace amounts if the surrounding air is relatively clean.
Snow you should avoid
Snow can collect pollutants, microplastics, chemicals, and animal waste as it forms and lands, so a lot of snow is not “pure.” You should avoid:
- Yellow, gray, or otherwise discolored snow, and any snow near roads, cars, sidewalks, plowed piles, or where animals might be active.
- The very first snow in a storm and snow in areas with very poor air quality, since it can carry more pollutants.
Not good for survival or hydration
In a survival situation, eating snow is a bad idea because your body must use heat to melt it, which can lower your core temperature and worsen dehydration and hypothermia. If snow is your only water source, it should be melted and ideally boiled and/or filtered before drinking to reduce both contamination and cold stress.
Who should be more careful
People with weaker immune systems, such as very young children, older adults, and those with chronic diseases, are advised to skip eating snow altogether. In heavily polluted cities, even “clean-looking” snow may carry higher levels of contaminants, so extra caution or complete avoidance is recommended.