This article contains all the information about can you eat packing peanuts. When you receive an order, you can see packing peanuts present in it to protect the object inside it. These tiny peanut-shaped packing objects reduce the impact and save the object inside is called packing peanuts. Initially, packing peanuts wasn’t discovered, and styrofoam packing peanuts were used. These are not bio-degradable and definitely can’t be eaten.
But in the 1980s, scientists found a way to create natural packing peanuts that are eco-friendly. They are more cost-efficient and perform well than the ones made of styrofoam. Most importantly, they are bio-degradable and pose no threat to the environment.
They are also called edible packing peanuts but are they really edible? Can you eat packing peanuts safely? We will answer that question in this article.
Contents
Is Packing Peanut Really Edible?
Packing peanuts are non-toxic and are made from biodegradable substances such as plant starch. They are actually edible. But they are not supposed to be eaten, and you shouldn’t eat all things that are edible. These packing peanuts might be edible, but your stomach can’t digest them effectively as they contain starch and cellulose, which humans can’t digest.
If you accidentally eat one or two packing peanuts, there is no harm. But avoid eating them, and if eaten in large amounts, seek medical aid. Since they can’t be digested, they can cause intestinal blockage and other serious problems. Most people, after eating them in mild moderation, will experience vomiting and diarrhea since their bodies can’t digest them.
What Should You Know About Packing Peanuts?
If you accidentally ate a packing peanut, the first thing you should do is identify the type of packing foam. There are two major types of packing peanuts, namely, styrofoam and bio-degradable packing peanuts. If you ate a bio-degradable packing peanut, you are not in any imminent danger.
They are mostly made from cornstarch and other natural sources. So, they are not harmful or toxic to humans. However, they can still cause intestinal blockage, vomiting, and diarrhea if eaten in large quantities.
But if you eat a styrofoam-based packing peanut, you should immediately reach for medical attention as they are created by plastics. They are mostly made from polystyrene plastic. They are harmful to human beings when ingested and are harmful to the environment too. This styrofoam is non-biodegradable and will remain on the surface of the earth unchanged.
Most of the styrofoam is recycled second or third-generation plastics, which increases the chance of getting cancer. So, natural packing peanuts are a healthy alternative to the typical styrofoam packing peanuts for us and the environment. The answer to the question can you eat packing peanuts is simple.
FAQs
1. Is packing peanuts toxic to humans?
Packing peanuts made from plant starch are not toxic to humans. But the traditional styrofoam packing peanuts are made up of polystyrene, which is toxic and is indigestible by human beings. This type of packing foam can be toxic to human beings.
2. Is packing peanuts digestible by human beings?
No two types of packing peanuts are digestible by human beings. Styrofoam is completely toxic to human beings, so it shouldn’t be eaten. Of course, it can’t be digested by our stomach. On the other hand, packing peanuts aren’t toxic to us as they are made of cornstarch. However, they are also non-digestible as our stomach.
3. What happens if you accidentally eat packing peanuts?
If you are lucky and ingest a few pieces of packing peanuts, nothing will happen to you. It will get passed down through excretory processes. In an unfortunate situation, you will experience intestinal blockages, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Here is answer to the question can you eat packing peanuts.