How Sick Will You Get if You Eat Snow in West Texas?

We've all heard from our parents, "Don't eat the yellow snow," and most people would agree that yellow, gray, really any snow that isn't totally white is generally a bad idea to put in your mouth. But did you know that snow of any kind, even the purest, whitest kind you can find, should never be eaten unless during emergencies?

West Texas Snow is Tempting... Don't Even Think About It

Lubbock and most parts of West Texas experienced a huge winter storm in January and many happy Texans of all ages wanted nothing more than to roll around, make snowmen, have snowball fights and even take a bite out of a fresh snowball. You know, like how Midwesterners feel four months of the year.

The downside is that snow can contain harmful bacteria and pollutants, especially on sidewalks and roads. According to Triple F.A.T. Goose, an outdoor cold-weather clothing brand, any nasty pollutants that are floating around in the air will get attached to snowflakes falling from the clouds.

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Add this to the fact that snow found on the ground is subject to animal and human contaminants, even if we can't see them with our eyes.

Baby Got Bac... teria

Speaking of contaminants, snow contains up to 85% of bacteria fragments, the most common of which being Pseudomonas syringae, which may actually be harmful to plant life.

Finally, from a survival standpoint, eating freshly-fallen snow can lower your body temperature, making you even colder if you are stranded and without water. Your body actually spends more energy trying to keep its core warm when you consume cold drinks or food. This is why it's always advised that you melt any snow and boil it for safety before trying to eat/drink it.

All in all, will eating snow kill you? Probably not, but why expose yourself to these nasty pollutants and contaminates in the first place?