Food with Activated Charcoal Can Make Birth Control Less Effective: Add a Warning Label

That black ice cream cone looks totally hardcore and goth and tasty, right? The treat gets its color from activated charcoal, a new trend that's cropping up in various food and beverages, like lattes and detoxifying lemonade. But activated charcoal can actually make your birth control and other prescription medicines less effective.

Yeah: if you eat activated charcoal shortly after taking a hormonal contraceptive, you could wind up pregnant.

That's because activated charcoal is super absorbent, which is why it's used to counteract overdoses in hospitals. It basically absorbs what's in your stomach -- including your prescription meds.

I would totally nom on some of this black ice cream, but in the interest of informed consent, ice cream shops should let their customers know the risk.

Please sign this petition to ask companies using activated charcoal in their ice cream to add a little warning label to let people know they should wait 2 hours between taking medicine and enjoying their treats! 🍦🍦🍦