In some parts of the world, geophagia is a culturally sanctioned practice.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Lithophagia, the consumption of pebbles and rocks, is sometimes considered a subset of geophagia.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Other dangers associated with geophagia include damage to tooth enamel, the ingestion of a variety of bacteria, various forms of soil contamination, and intestinal obstruction.