White Dirt?

Question

OKAY.... Seriously. I went to a convenient store today and they had small bags of White Dirt for sale. I thought this to be a really strange novelty item so I asked the clerk why they sold and how much they sold. He informed me that it sold quite well and people EAT IT!!!!! Okay, if this is a southern thing, I am embarrassed for the south. Has anyone else heard of this and is it a "practice" in other parts of the US??

for more info on this go to www.whitedirt.com

Some of the more official names of white dirt are white clay, kaolin, porcelain clay, china clay, chalk, or the long winded scientific name aluminum silicate hydroxide. Whichever name you choose, it's still white dirt.

There are many uses for this natural product. Kaolin (white dirt) is used medically to treat diarrhea, dysentary, cholera, and is also used in paper making, paint, fiberglass, porcelains and ceramics, china, and toothpaste. Some of the most popular products made with kaolin (white dirt) are Kaopectate, Rolaids, Di-gel, Mylanta, and Maalox.

Some people have actually been known to consume White Dirt regularly and not only like the taste but crave it. It has been said that the taste of white dirt is akin to the fresh way that the ground smells when it's real dry and a little sprinkle of rain falls. Dirt-eating is an ancient tradition that is practiced all over the world ...

Answer 1

OK I have been in the south for 45+ years and I never heard of such a thing. Gosh I hope you are mistaken or he was pulling your leg!!

Answer 2

Eating White Dirt

Answer 3

Georgia White Dirt

Answer 4

You probably ran across a very localised phenomenon. In some areas of the south, where the punishments of post-civil war government policies have cause continuing rampant poverty, many people, especially children and pregnant women, suffer from a deficient diet. Poor nutrition can result in a "pica", or craving for substances normally not considered food, including paint chips, feathers, and even "white dirt" which probably contains a lot of minerals. If you can't afford good, decent food, you will not be able to afford expensive over-the-counter multi-vitamins. You can grind up oyster shells, dig up some chalky limestone and sterilise and process it, OR you can buy some cheap dietary supplement like "white dirt". I would not call this practice "common" in any part of the US, but there are plenty of isolated cases anywhere you find pockets of extreme poverty, all over the world, and the kind of non-food supplement in demand will be determined by what mineral the local farmland is deficient in. You may not be able to stamp out poverty all by yourself, but please have compassion for those who are doing their best in a bad situation.

Answer 5

I watching a special on PBS at this very moment called "Real South," and a good portion is about "white dirt." People do eat it. Many anti acids are made from it -– Rolaids, Mylanta, Maalox, Kaeopectate, etc.

Answer 6

Very interesting, I've heard about people eating dirt before (it's a medical condition...called Pica), but never heard about them selling it...it's a good idea though, probably a lot safer for them.
No, it's not a southern thing, lived in TX my whole life and have never seen it, lol.

Here's some info about Pica: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/pica.html

Answer 7

I heard of southerner eating red dirt, but not white, but I guess it's all dirt, LOL.

Answer 8

Never heard of it before. But then I'm from Ohio. Is it a candy?

Answer 9

Honey, it ain't a souuthern thang!
It may be a type of powdered candy, but I have never heard of it.

Answer 10

no way WHITE DIRT???that's hella interesting