What to know about eating snow after massive winter storm

Getting outdoors to enjoy simple pleasures is unlikely to be front of mind for people in a 1,300-mile stretch of the United States where a massive weekend storm brought deep snow and bitter cold. But as communities recover, some residents of lesser-affected areas might be tempted to make snow cones, whip up bowls of “snow cream” or to try “sugar on snow.” But how safe is it to turn snow into a treat? Experts say eating a bit of snow is probably fine if you live someplace with generally clean air, but staying away from plowed snow is a sensible precaution. It might contain deicing chemicals, debris and other contaminants.