Diet of Sponges and Soap

Kerry Trebilcock of Mylar, Cornwall has a unique craving for sponges and soap, particularly with some tomato and bbq sauce. She prefers sponges with some hot relish, ketchup, mustard and honey, but if shes out of sponges a fruit scented bar of soap will fill the craving.

This peculiar craving is caused by Pica, which causes people to crave objects that are not considered food.

“I have been very particular about the type of sponges and soaps I’d eat and how I’d prepare them. If I went out for the day I’d carry a small plastic bag of cut-up pieces of sponge with some tomato and BBQ sauce in Tupperware. I was never without a ‘snack’,” said Kerry.

There are many other objects that Pica causes cravings for, such as metal, coal, dirt, sand, chalk, etc. Sometimes it extends to larger objects like furniture, ceiling pictures, lightbulbs, etc.