If you regularly eat beef jerky, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a little white packet in the package. Those packets, usually labeled “DO NOT EAT,” probably seem out of place next to your delicious snack. You may have wondered whether they’re dangerous or poisonous.
Those scary-looking bags can be found in many places, like Amazon orders, food containers, and more. All sorts of industries rely on them to perform a simple function — keeping moisture away from products.
Beef jerky is a popular snack food made by drying thin slices of beef into strips. To help preserve freshness and extend shelf life, beef jerky manufacturers often include small packets called oxygen absorbers in the packaging. These absorbers help remove oxygen from inside the package to prevent spoilage. However, you may wonder, what happens if you accidentally eat one of these oxygen absorber packets?
At VeryMeaty, we strive to provide useful information to help our readers make informed choices about their meat snacks. In this article we’ll explore what oxygen absorbers are why they’re used in beef jerky, the dangers of ingesting them, symptoms of iron poisoning, and steps to take if accidental ingestion occurs.
What Is An Oxygen Absorber And Why Is It Used In Beef Jerky?
Oxygen absorbers are small packets, usually about 1 inch by 1 inch in size, that contain iron powder. The iron reacts with oxygen molecules to form iron oxide, effectively absorbing oxygen from the enclosed space. This creates an oxygen-free environment to prevent food spoilage.
Manufacturers include oxygen absorbers in beef jerky packaging because oxygen can cause oxidation, leading to faster spoilage. Oxygen allows aerobic microorganisms to thrive, resulting in discoloration, rancidity, and unpleasant odors. By removing oxygen from the package, the growth of these microbes is inhibited.
Oxygen absorbers provide a more effective oxygen barrier compared to vacuum packaging or nitrogen flushing. They only absorb small volumes of oxygen, so oxygen entering through leaks in the package won’t overwhelm the capacity of the absorber. Oxygen absorbers are convenient and can be used with many packaging types.
For best results, ensure packaging is properly sealed so the oxygen absorber can work most effectively. While very useful, they aren’t a replacement for proper packaging and storage techniques.
The Dangers Of Ingesting An Oxygen Absorber
While oxygen absorbers help food stay fresh, they contain iron powder that can be toxic if eaten. The iron reacts with stomach acid and becomes dissolved iron ions that are readily absorbed into the body.
Even small amounts of iron absorbed this way can cause severe poisoning, especially in children. Iron poisoning remains one of the leading causes of childhood poisoning fatalities.
Symptoms occur in stages, starting with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort shortly after ingestion. There is often a symptom-free period up to 24 hours later before more severe poisoning takes effect.
Later stages can involve bloody stool, low blood pressure, fast heart rate, tremors, jaundice, metabolic acidosis, shock, liver toxicity, convulsions, coma, and death in extreme cases.
If an oxygen absorber packet is ingested, immediately contact the Poison Control Center or emergency services, especially if a child is involved. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before taking action.
Symptoms Of Iron Poisoning
The symptoms and timeline of iron poisoning often occur in three distinct stages:
First 6 hours: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
6-24 hours: Symptom free period, false sense of recovery
12-96 hours: Potentially life-threatening symptoms – bloody stool, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, jaundice, tremors, seizures, organ failure, coma, death without prompt treatment
2-6 weeks later: Intestinal strictures, blockages that require surgical intervention
The severity depends on the amount of iron absorbed into the bloodstream. Even minor gastrointestinal upset indicates the need for urgent medical care, as mild symptoms can still precede severe systemic poisoning.
Prompt diagnosis requires a serum iron test 4-6 hours after ingestion. Levels exceeding 300-400 mcg/dL often require treatment with iron chelation therapy. Supportive care helps stabilize patients until antidotes can remove excess iron from the body.
What To Do If You Or Someone Else Ingests An Oxygen Absorber
If you suspect iron poisoning from an oxygen absorber packet, quick action is critical. These steps provide an emergency overview, but you should always contact Poison Control or 911 right away:
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Induce vomiting only if advised by Poison Control. This may remove packets still in the stomach.
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Take the person and any remaining packets to the ER. Knowing the iron content helps guide treatment.
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Administer aluminum hydroxide to bind iron in the GI tract. Do NOT give activated charcoal as it won’t bind to iron.
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Get a 4-6 hour post-ingestion serum iron test to determine if chelation therapy is needed.
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Provide supportive care – IV fluids, anti-emetics, antacids while awaiting iron test results.
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Begin deferoxamine chelation therapy if iron levels exceed 300-400 mcg/dL.
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Monitor for delayed intestinal damage that may require surgery in the weeks following initial recovery.
Early intervention can prevent lasting organ damage and save lives. Any accidental ingestion of oxygen absorbers warrants immediate medical assessment.
How To Prevent Accidental Ingestion
To avoid potential iron poisoning, take steps to prevent oxygen absorber packet ingestion:
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Recognize and heed warning labels like “Do Not Eat” on packaging.
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Store beef jerky properly out of reach of children and pets.
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When giving jerky to kids or animals, inspect and remove packets first.
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Educate family members that packets contain toxic iron and must be discarded.
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Contact manufacturers about child-resistant resealable packets.
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Supervise young snackers and remind them packets are not edible.
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Follow first aid guidance if ingestion episodes occur.
A few simple precautions help avoid this hazard lurking in popular meat snacks. Being prepared to respond correctly can save lives if an accident happens despite best efforts.
FAQs About Oxygen Absorbers in Beef Jerky
How much iron is in an oxygen absorber packet?
Oxygen absorber packets contain between 0.5 grams to 1 gram of elemental iron powder, which can provide 60-100 mg of iron if completely dissolved. This greatly exceeds the maximum safe iron dosage of 20 mg per kg of body weight.
What color are oxygen absorbers?
Oxygen absorbers are grey or black in color. They are identified by warning text on the packet, not by color.
Are oxygen absorbers safe to eat?
No, oxygen absorbers should never be consumed. The iron powder poses a poisoning risk if eaten, especially for children and pets.
Do oxygen absorbers expire?
Once exposed to air, oxygen absorbers begin reacting with oxygen. They typically last 6-12 months from manufacturing if kept sealed. The iron eventually becomes saturated with oxygen, limiting further absorptive capacity.
Can you reuse oxygen absorbers?
No, oxygen absorbers cannot be reused. Once saturated, the iron no longer absorbs new oxygen. Used packets should always be discarded as the residual iron still poses an ingestion hazard.
Are oxygen absorbers safe to touch?
Yes, brief skin contact with intact oxygen absorber packets is not hazardous. As with any foreign material, wash hands after handling to avoid accidental ingestion. The danger is from eating the iron powder, not touching sealed packets.
The Takeaway On Oxygen Absorbers in Beef Jerky
Oxygen absorbers help extend the shelf life of beef jerky by removing oxygen from packaging. But the iron-based powder poses a poisoning risk if accidentally ingested, especially for children and pets.
Seek immediate medical help if an oxygen absorber packet is swallowed. With prompt treatment, the outcomes are often positive. But delayed action can allow severe iron poisoning to take hold.
Through awareness and preventive steps, we can all enjoy tasty jerky without putting loved ones at risk. At VeryMeaty, we care about your health and safety. Please reach out if we can answer any other questions about safely enjoying your favorite meat snacks!
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If you regularly eat beef jerky, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a little white packet in the package. Those packets, usually labeled “DO NOT EAT,” probably seem out of place next to your delicious snack. You may have wondered whether they’re dangerous or poisonous.
Those scary-looking bags can be found in many places, like Amazon orders, food containers, and more. All sorts of industries rely on them to perform a simple function — keeping moisture away from products.
How Do the Silica Gel Packets in Beef Jerky Work?
Many of the white bags would have a dozen clear gel beads inside them. These beads would contain silica gel, which is a desiccant made from silica and water.
If you ever dropped your phone in the sink, you may have used rice, which is naturally dry, to get rid of the water that was stuck in the cracks and crevices of the phone.
Silica packets perform this task superbly.
Silica gel is excellent at maintaining a level of dryness. When the air around a silica gel packet gets too dry, the packet sends water back into the air. Because of this, silica packets are the best way to keep beef jerky fresh over long distances and for long periods of time.