Reese Witherspoon recently caused quite a stir on social media after posting a TikTok video showing her making and eating “snow cream” using fresh snow from her car. The lighthearted video has sparked a surprising amount of controversy, with fans passionately debating about the safety and hygiene of consuming snow.
Witherspoon Shares Creative Snow Treat Recipe
On January 20th, Witherspoon posted a TikTok video from her car, showing fresh snow on her vehicle and hands. She is heard saying “When your kids are craving a sweet treat and you’ve got snow… try snow cream!” The video then shows Witherspoon mixing snow with condensed milk and chocolate syrup in a mug, topping it with sprinkles and a spoon, and taking a bite.
The dessert concoction, dubbed “chococcinos” by Witherspoon, was inspired by a challenge she saw on TikTok to make a treat out of snow when snow is on the ground. “It was delicious!,” she insists in the video’s caption.
| Ingredients in Reese’s “Snow Cream” Recipe | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Fresh snow | Base ingredient with creamy texture |
| Sweetened condensed milk | Adds sweetness and richness |
| Chocolate syrup | Flavors the “cream” |
| Sprinkles | Adds color and crunch |
The video quickly went viral, being viewed over 2 million times. However, many fans were turned off and concerned about the safety of eating snow, especially snow gathered from a car.
Fans Express Disgust and Health Concerns
It wasn’t long before thousands of comments flooded the post, many expressing disgust and doubts about the hygiene standards of this recipe.
“That snow is yellow from all the car pollution! I wouldn’t let my worst enemy eat that,” wrote one follower. Other commenters warned the snow likely contains dangerous contaminants like car exhaust, oil leaks, animal feces, litter, and road salt.
Some medical experts weighed in, noting the potential health risks of ingesting such contaminants. Dr. Simone Gold, a Los Angeles physician, told Yahoo Lifestyle:
“From a medical point of view, eating snow could expose someone to carcinogens or disease-causing bacteria and viruses. It’s generally safer to avoid.”
Critics also attacked the palatability of the concoction, with one Instagram user writing: “Just the thought makes me want to gag. I’ll stick to ice cream.”
However, not all responses were negative. Some fans appreciated Witherspoon’s creativity and nostalgia for childhood snow treats. “Snow cream was my favorite thing about winter as a kid! Love this,” wrote one supporter.
Witherspoon Defends Herself Against Backlash
As criticism mounted over the weekend, Witherspoon took to the comments section to defend herself. Attempting to justify the cleanliness of her snow cream, she wrote:
“It’s just snow people! My gosh! Haven’t you ever eaten snow as a kid?”
She later responded to followers expressing worry she would get sick, hitting back:
“You do know that I grew up in Tennessee right? We used to eat snow all the time! We drank out of the hose too.”
Witherspoon seems incredulous so many people took offense from what she sees as harmless childhood fun. As the intensity of responses increased, Witherspoon’s team eventually disabled comments on the post.
Debate Ensues About Snow Consumption
While Witherspoon’s snow recipe may seem unappetizing or even dangerous to some, others are now speaking out in her defense. An Op-Ed published by the L.A. Times on Sunday argues:
“While snow in urban areas does collect some level of pollution, the risks from occasional consumption are minimal. The amount of snow needed to make a tiny mug-full of Reese’s snow cream would likely contain only trace amounts of contaminants.”
Health experts note that playing in snow and even accidentally ingesting small amounts during playtime has not been shown to cause harm. Dr. Jessica Nouhavandi, a preventative medicine physician, told Today:
“Should kids eat bowls and bowls of polluted snow on a regular basis? Certainly not. But enjoying the experience of eating snow as Reese did is unlikely to pose much risk.”
While the jury may still be out regarding the exact safety of Witherspoon’s viral recipe, her video has undoubtedly got people talking about snow consumption and winter fun.
Perhaps next time, using fresh powder from more pristine locations would silence more of the critics. But for now, Witherspoon does not seem bothered, satisfied her chilly treat brought back fond childhood memories.
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