That little packet floating around inside your pouch of Mama Love Protein is filled with silica gel. Silica gel is a drying agent, or desiccant, that keeps moisture from reacting with the ingredients (namely, brewer’s yeast) and forming clumps.

Protein powders are notorious for clumping up and losing freshness after opening—that’s why so many of them contain fillers and preservatives. We wanted to keep our formula clean, so we decided to go a different route. Silica gel is non-toxic and relatively harmless, but it could present a choking hazard in the hands of children and you definitely don’t want to toss it in your blender by accident.

Keep an eye out for that freshness packet, and when you’ve finished your Mama Love Protein you can recycle or reuse it. (Slipping a packet in your sweaty gym shoes can help prevent stinky odors and mildew.)