If you ever find yourself in a desperate emergency situation, you start wondering if those plastic shoes on your feet could be your next meal. Would you just be hallucinating, or having a life-saving idea? Can you actually eat Crocs?
Believe it or not, it might be one of the strangest—yet oddly popular—survival questions floating around the internet!
Let’s see what’s behind this wild (survival?) urban legend that has so many people seriously questioning their life choices!
How did the “eating crocs thing” start?
Was it plain curiosity, urban legend, or a genuine survival hack?
The question dates back to at least 2006, when a curious Crocs-wearer posted on a message board and later emailed the company to ask if the shoes were edible. Crocs replied that while their shoes are non-toxic, they contain no nutritional value.
from Bobotheoptimist“Bob,
This is a rumor, said to have started with a camp counselor who boiled a Croc, and cut it into pieces, substituting the actual shoe with candy before he fed it to the camp children. Although Crocs are non-toxic, there is little, if any, nutritional value in the material we use. We highly recommend you do not eat or attempt to eat your Crocs.
Thank You,
Crocs Internet Services”
That might’ve been the end of it—if not for the internet.
Over the years, the question popped up in online survival forums, Reddit threads, and even TikToks. It became a kind of twisted meme: if you’re stranded in the wild, could your footwear be your fallback meal?
The myth gained extra momentum in 2016, when a high school student decided to see if his lime green Croc could be turned into a gourmet meal. He boiled it with salt, pepper, and olive oil for 20 minutes, hoping for something remotely edible. The result was a softened but still chewy chunk of rubber that felt like gnawing on a mouthguard.
Swallowing it was tough, and it wouldn’t break down either, said the kid in his blog post.
It was more like a failed science experiment than a fine dining experience.
Just like most products come with a “keep away from children” warning, Crocs probably should, too—at least when it comes to eating them.
So, if you’re eyeing your Crocs as a snack, just don’t. People who’ve tried say they taste like nothing, feel like chewing on a mouthguard, and can wreak havoc on your stomach since they don’t break down in your body. Even in a survival scenario, experts suggest you’d be better off using them to swat bugs than to fill your belly.
What are Crocs shoes made of?
Crocs are mainly made from Croslite™, a proprietary resin primarily composed of polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), a polymer derived from fossil fuels. This material makes Crocs shoes lightweight, durable, and water-resistant. But it’s not food.
Croslite™ is often mistaken for rubber or plastic, but it’s technically a foam resin, originally designed for use in orthopedic applications due to its cushioning properties.
In 2021, and in response to sustainability concerns, Crocs launched a bio-based version of Croslite™ made with up to 98% renewable feedstock like straw and other plant-based materials. That might sound organic, but don’t get your hopes up—it’s still not edible, and still not digestible.
Are Crocs edible? What science (and common sense) says
Technically: Yes.
Realistically: Absolutely not!
Croslite™, the material used in Crocs, is non-toxic but not meant to be eaten. While it won’t immediately poison you doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat. The human body lacks the enzymes needed to break down those resins. So, they won’t break down in your stomach, and they can cause serious health problems:
- intestinal obstruction
- choking
- constipation
- diarrhea
- chemical exposure
Also, heating or burning the material could expose you to harmful chemical fumes.
Some people have tried boiling and eating Crocs as an experiment, but the results only reinforce how inedible the material truly is. In extreme survival situations, experts recommend finding real food sources, such as plants or insects, rather than resorting to eating a shoe.
Ultimately, Crocs are designed for wearing, not eating. They have no nutritional value and won’t provide any sustenance in a survival situation.
Crocs “Nutrition” Info (Per 100g of Croslite™)
No one asked us for Crocs’ “nutritional value”, but we did it anyway. Here’s what we found:
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g of Croslite™ |
|---|---|
| Calories | 0 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Vitamins | 0 mg |
| Minerals | 0 mg |
| Water Content | ~0% |
| Potential Toxic Chemicals | None (unless heated or burned) |
| Digestibility | Indigestible |
As you can see, Crocs have absolutely no health benefit as they don’t provide calories (energy), vitamins, or nutrients. As a result, Crocs should not be considered a food source under any circumstances!
Survival Scenarios: Can Eating Crocs Save Your Life?
If you were in a desperate situation where your life is at risk, eating your Crocs is technically possible, but highly dangerous. It can certainly cause more harm than good.
If you’re in a survival situation, it is far safer to seek out natural food sources that can actually keep you alive. Your best options should be:
- Insects (e.g., grasshoppers, crickets): High in protein and easy to find.
- Bird eggs: Safe if cooked and rich in fats and nutrients.
- Small Fish and frogs: Excellent sources of protein and fat if near water.
- Edible plants (e.g., dandelion greens, cattail roots, tree bark): Some wild plants offer real calories.
Bear Grylls, a professional adventurer and survival expert.
“Survival requires movement. You need your energy, and you’ve got to eat the bad stuff, and survival food is rarely pretty, but you kind of do it.”
In short, eating your Crocs should never be an option; it’s a terrible idea, as they offer no nutritional value and can be dangerous. Find real food sources in a survival situation.
Can Crocs at least satiate your hunger?
No, Crocs will not really satiate your hunger. While chewing them might make you feel a temporary relief, like having something in your stomach, they cannot be digested and will give you zero nutritional value. It’s best to seek real, edible survival foods over synthetic materials.
Should you eat your Crocs if there is no food? The final verdict
No. Never. Not even once.
Crocs may be non-toxic, but they’re non-food, non-nutritive, and non-digestible. Chewing one in a desperate moment might give you a placebo sense of fullness, but it could land you in even worse trouble.
Instead, your best bet in an emergency is to keep those Crocs on your feet for protection, use them as a makeshift tool or container, or even wave them around to signal for help if you’re somewhere with rescuers nearby.
It seems like kids just can’t resist testing the limits of what they can chew (seriously, what’s the fascination with eating Crocs?!). But trust us, your stomach will thank you if you just use those shoes for their intended purpose—on your feet!
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