February 4^th 2026

Winter brings a slew of challenges – from snow-covered driveways to slippery, hazardous roads. Thankfully, our trusty road salts help keep streets safe. But using them comes with a hidden cost: damage to the ecosystems that receive this runoff.

When road salt is washed into rivers and lakes, it doesn’t just disappear. Studies show it can harm freshwater wildlife, particularly microscopic organisms at the base of the food web, like zooplankton. As these creatures decline, entire ecosystems can be thrown off-balance.

A sweeter alternative to road salt

Surprisingly, organic alternatives to road salts are already being used across Canadian provinces: beet juice, pickle juice, and cheese brine. Beet juice, in particular, is a popular option. It comes from the molasses left over from sugar beet processing, a byproduct that would otherwise go to waste.

When combined with salt, the sugars in beet juice create a sticky, more effective de-icing solution. The mixture clings to road surfaces longer, makes the salt harder to wash away, and even lowers the melting point of snow and ice. Some studies suggest this combo can cut the amount road salt needed by up to 30%!

This innovation could be a win-win: safer roads, and less salt entering our waterways. But there’s a catch, scientists still don’t know how beet juice itself impacts freshwater ecosystems.

Evaluating this new method at Gault

That’s where Catalina Claus comes in. A PhD candidate at McGill and a Gault Research Award recipient, Catalina has made it her mission to understand how beet juice and road salt interact in freshwater ecosystems.

While both ingredients individually act as eutrophication stressors – meaning they can increase nutrients and promote harmful algae blooms – road salt is also known to be directly toxic to zooplankton.

Catalina’s research explores a key question: Does combining beet juice and salt reduce their environmental impacts, or make them worse? Her goal is to provide science-based recommendations for more thoughtful, ecosystem-sensitive de-icing strategies.

What's holding beet back, and what’s next?

If beet juice can improve road safety and reduce environmental harm, why aren’t more cities using it?

It sometimes comes down to a question of cleanliness. Depending on the form of the product used, the sticky mixture can cling not just to roads, but to boots, tires and vehicles. It also can leave dark reddish-brown stains behind, an aesthetic choice many people find unappealing.

Still, as researchers like Catalina continue to investigate the ecological trade-offs, beet juice may yet find its place as a cleaner, greener tool for tackling winter’s challenges.

About the researcher

Catalina Claus is a PhD candidate supervised by Gregor Fussmann, professor and chair of the Department of Biology at McGill University. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, she researched the impacts of road salts and warming stressors on goldfish invasions under the supervision of Anthony Ricciardi, professor at the Redpath Museum and director of McGill’s Bieler School of Environment. Originally from Mono, Ontario, Catalina enjoys spending time outdoors, whether hiking, skiing or exploring.

Marie Lefevre
Field Operations Assistant in 2025
Gault Nature Reserve