Tag: Freezer frost

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), pica is an eating disorder characterized by a compulsive desire to consume non-food substances. If you have an intense, persistent urge to consume ice, including freezer frost, you may have a form of pica called pagophagia. Here is how to stop eating freezer frost by identifying and addressing the underlying causes.

Compulsively chewing on ice or freezer frost is a medical condition known as pagophagia and can signal more than just a quirky habit. What seems like a harmless behavior can potentially lead to dental damage, expose you to bacteria, and point toward serious nutritional deficiencies or mental health issues.

According to one study, pagophagia—the compulsive eating of ice—accounted for 94% of reported pica cases in blood donors with iron deficiency or depletion. The habit to eat freezer frost is therefore often not a simple craving, but a sign of a significant underlying health concern.