Tag: Soil consumption

The practice of eating earth, known as geophagy, is an ancient human behavior observed across various cultures and continents, with historical accounts dating back to Hippocrates around 400 BC. A specific manifestation of this is eating kaolinite, a type of white clay, which is driven by a complex mix of cultural, psychological, and physiological factors.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ingesting soil can potentially lead to infections from parasites and bacteria. Despite this, products labeled as "edible clay" or "Punjab ki mitti" are openly sold in various markets, raising serious questions about the safety of consuming soil from Punjab.

Geophagy, the practice of consuming soil or clay, has been a part of human history for centuries, observed in various cultures globally. This raises the question: is eating a little dirt good for you?