If you’ve ever opened a new product and found a small sachet labelled “Silica Gel – Do Not Eat”, you may have wondered: is silica gel actually toxic?
The short answer is no – standard silica gel is generally non-toxic. However, silica gel is not intended to be eaten, and silica gel sachets should always be used as directed and kept away from young children and pets.
Despite the warning commonly printed on silica gel sachets, the main concern with standard silica gel is generally not poisoning. The warning is there because silica gel is not a food product and the sachets can also present a potential choking hazard.
What Is Silica Gel?
Silica gel is a porous form of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) that is widely used as a desiccant to help control moisture and humidity.
Rather than absorbing moisture like a sponge, silica gel adsorbs water molecules onto its large porous surface. This allows silica gel to help maintain a dry environment inside packaging and protect products that may be affected by excess moisture.
Because of these properties, silica gel sachets are commonly used with products such as food, electronics, pharmaceuticals, tools, clothing, footwear and other moisture-sensitive goods.
The Pro-Ex food-grade silica gel range is non-toxic, non-flammable and odourless and, under optimal conditions, can adsorb up to approximately 30% of its own weight in moisture.
What Happens If Silica Gel Is Accidentally Swallowed?
Standard white or clear silica gel is considered non-toxic. If a small amount is accidentally swallowed, it would not normally be expected to cause poisoning.
However, silica gel is not edible and should not intentionally be consumed. The sachet itself may also present a choking hazard, particularly for babies and young children.
If silica gel has been accidentally swallowed and you are concerned, particularly where a child is involved or a large quantity has been swallowed, seek professional medical advice. In Australia, you can contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If the person feels unwell or develops symptoms after accidental ingestion, seek medical attention.
It is also important to identify exactly what type of silica gel has been swallowed, as not every silica gel product has the same composition.
What About Indicating Silica Gel?
It is important to distinguish standard food-grade silica gel from some types of indicating silica gel.
Indicating silica gel is designed to change colour as it adsorbs moisture. This provides a visual indication that the desiccant has become saturated and may need to be replaced or regenerated.
Pro-Ex advises that food-grade white or orange silica gel is non-toxic, while blue indicating silica gel is not food safe. Different indicating silica gels may contain additional chemicals used to create their colour-changing properties.
For this reason, you should always check the specifications and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the particular silica gel product being used rather than assuming that all silica gel products are identical.
Why Does the Packet Say “Do Not Eat”?
The words “Do Not Eat” can understandably make people assume that silica gel must be poisonous.
However, the warning does not necessarily mean that standard silica gel is toxic. Silica gel is not manufactured as a food product, and the small sachets can present a choking hazard if swallowed.
The warning therefore provides a clear reminder that the sachet should remain inside the packaging for its intended purpose – controlling moisture – rather than being consumed.
Is Silica Gel Safe to Use?
When used correctly, silica gel provides a simple and effective way to help protect products against excess moisture.
The most important thing is to select the appropriate silica gel for the application, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure sachets are stored and used appropriately.
So, while Pro-Ex food-grade silica gel is non-toxic, it should still be treated as a desiccant product and not as something intended for consumption.
Looking for Silica Gel?
Protection Experts Australia (Pro-Ex) supplies a range of food-grade silica gel desiccants in different sachet sizes and bulk options for moisture protection and humidity control.
Explore the Pro-Ex Silica Gel range to find the right solution for your application.