659990 Fri Oct 16 10:24:17 -0700 2009 8 29 Not About Food 0 5108211 I use a bunch of supplements whose containers include those little packets of desiccant to keep the tablets in good condition. I would like to re-use the packets to keep crackers crisp. When I open a package or box I put the crackers in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, but they typically get stale before I finish them. Crackers have oils, salt, and other ingredients that vitamins and other supplement tablets don't. Can I safely use the desiccant packets in the cracker jar? Fri Oct 16 10:24:17 -0700 2009 159317 greygarious 1 5108309 I would think if you could, they would be included with cracker packages. Fri Oct 16 10:52:57 -0700 2009 5108211 12123 Cathy 2 5110868 They are. Tons of crackers and chips from Japan, Korea and China are packaged with desiccant packets inside. They're perfectly safe. Sat Oct 17 15:16:31 -0700 2009 5108309 18488 SnackHappy 1 5108331 Yes, you can. Most types of Desiccant are non-toxic Fri Oct 16 11:01:04 -0700 2009 5108211 11583 ipsedixit 1 5108771 Most desiccant packs contain either silica gel (sand, more or less) or porous clay. Neither would be delicious, but they wouldn't be harmful. Fri Oct 16 13:30:53 -0700 2009 5108211 101727 brandywiner 1 5109551 Some jerky comes with the little packets mixed right in with the meat. Only problem that I can think of is that those 'supplements' may have odors that will taint the crackers. Fri Oct 16 19:36:52 -0700 2009 5108211 169832 NVJims 2 5113185 Yes, silica gel packaged in Tyvek or Cotton packets do meet FDA specifications to be used in dry-food packaging. The only type of Silica Gel to stay away from is the kind that starts BLUE and turns PINK, this contains Cobalt Chloride which is found to be bad for environment and can cause cancer. If you need an indicating type Silica Gel use the Orange indicating Silica Gel as it does not contain Cobalt Chloride. But for any type of food packaging just go with the standard non-indicating (usually white/clear) silica gel in Cotton or Tyvek. You can get more information from this site: http://www.silicagelpackets.com/ Sun Oct 18 18:36:16 -0700 2009 5109551 1117393 billwright 1 5115082 greygarious, I am so glad you asked this. I have been wondering this myself, and saltine crackers get stale so quickly. I knew a guy who camped a lot and he used them to keep food fresh in his backpack. Still he is a young man, and I wasn't sure I wanted to go on his word on this. I'm going to try it. Mon Oct 19 13:34:51 -0700 2009 5108211 80937 danhole 1 5117368 Apply them directly to the hips: they work wonders. Tue Oct 20 10:32:36 -0700 2009 5108211 13819 Karl S