My fiber gummies turned white and hard?? Still safe to eat?
Hey all, I bought a big bottle of fiber gummies (the ones with chicory root) like 3 months ago. I keep them in my bathroom cabinet (I know, bad idea). Now they look all white and chalky on the outside and some are stuck together in a clump. They also feel super hard. Did they go bad? Are they still safe to eat? I don't wanna waste them but also don't wanna get sick lol. Help!
That sounds like sugar bloom + moisture absorption. Basically the sugar crystallizes on the surface and they get sticky then hard. Usually not dangerous, just less pleasant. But if they smell funky or have mold (fuzzy green/black), toss them. For fiber gummies, the fiber itself won't go bad easily but the gelatin/pectin can degrade. I'd say if they're just white and hard, you can still eat them but they might be less effective and taste weird. Try storing in a cool dry place next time. Biohacker tip: keep silica gel packets in the bottle.
I wouldn't risk it. If they changed texture that much, the preservatives might have failed. Fiber supplements are cheap enough to replace. Why gamble with your gut? Also bathroom = humidity = bad. Just compost them or something. Minimalist approach: buy smaller batches, store in glass jar in pantry.
Thanks guys. No mold or weird smell, just white and hard. I might try one and see. But yeah, lesson learned about the bathroom. Gigi, how many silica packets we talkin? Like one per bottle?
One or two depending on size. Also you can get those desiccant canisters. But honestly if they're already bloomed, silica won't reverse it. Just prevents future. And don't eat the silica packet obviously lol. Let us know if you survive :P