Traces of rocket fuel have been found in organic milk, bottled water, and lettuce from Maryland to California. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating, but urge calm.

"I think that it is important that EPA and FDA (news - web sites) and other agencies come to some resolution about the toxicity of this chemical," Mayer said. "That has been, frankly, a struggle for the last few years."

The FDA found that of the various food items it tested, iceberg lettuce grown in Belle Glade, Fla., had the highest concentrations of perchlorate. The greens had 71.6 parts per billion of the compound, the primary ingredient in solid rocket propellent. Red leaf lettuce grown in El Centro, Calif., had 52 ppb of perchlorate. Most of the purified, distilled and spring bottled water tested around the nation tested had no detectable amount of perchlorate. [�]

"These data are exploratory and should not be understood to be a reflection of the distribution of perchlorate in the U.S. food supply," the agency said in a statement. "Until more is known about the health effects of perchlorate and its occurrence in foods, FDA continues to recommend that consumers eat a balanced diet, choosing a variety of foods that are low in trans fat and saturated fat, and rich in high-fiber grains, fruits and vegetables."

You know that the shit has hit the fan when the FDA breaks out the food pyramid and tell everybody to stay calm. I can only assume that since America doesn't have flying rocket cars, personal rocket packs, or rocket-powered superheroes that the rocket fuel might come from fucking rockets.

randomcharacters

I'm lost

August 2004

DEC 01, 2004 03:58 AM

come on, that shit's good for ya. mmm mmm rocketfuel, just like grandma used to make.

Pwndcake

Portland, OR

October 2004

DEC 01, 2004 04:40 AM

I can't wait to see the RDA of rocket fuel on food packaging.

I can only assume that since America doesn't have flying rocket cars, personal rocket packs, or rocket-powered superheroes that the rocket fuel might come from fucking rockets.

So se're talking about "fuel" that comes from "fucking rockets." That may not have been meant as a euphanism, but that's how I'm going to take it.

apesamongus

Atlanta, GA

July 2002

DEC 01, 2004 04:46 AM

Wow, 71.6 parts per billion. If I eat 6 tons of food a day I might be able to blast off somewhere in 3 or 4 hundred years.

MetaTag

United Kingdom

September 2002

DEC 01, 2004 05:19 AM

Don't play with matches kiddies.

rape_aint_funny

Los Angeles, CA

January 2003

DEC 01, 2004 05:46 AM

I can only assume that since America doesn't have flying rocket cars, personal rocket packs, or rocket-powered superheroes that the rocket fuel might come from fucking rockets.

Perchlorate salts are used in a variety of fields aside from national defense and space exploration...

"Ammonium perchlorate is also used in certain fireworks, the manufacture of matches, as a component of air bag inflators, and in analytical chemistry to preserve ionic strength... Potassium perchlorate until recently was used to treat hyperthyroidism resulting from Grave's disease, and is still used diagnostically to test thyroid hormone production in some clinical settings. Other uses of perchlorate salts include in nuclear reactors and electronic tubes, as additives in lubricating oils, in tanning and finishing leather, as a fixer for fabrics and dyes, and in electoplating, aluminum refining, rubber manufacture, and production of paints and enamels. "

I'm not saying the rockets aren't certainly a part of it, there have been large scale disposals of solid potassium perchlorate rocket fuels because of it's limited shelf life.

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO

April 2004

DEC 01, 2004 07:27 AM

<Spit Take>

I thought my milk tasted funny!

68stretch

Portland, OR

March 2003

DEC 01, 2004 08:49 AM

Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor - DAMN!

Gazzuzah my dils-neufis.

dem_z

United Kingdom

June 2004

DEC 01, 2004 09:58 AM

50 ppb seems like a tiny amount. Is anything harmful at that level of dilution?

Hati

North Hollywood, CA

December 2003

DEC 01, 2004 10:06 AM

My iceburg lettuce gives me that go go GO I need from my daily salads!

ankiel66

Seattle, WA

June 2003

DEC 01, 2004 10:51 AM

demetrius_z said:
50 ppb seems like a tiny amount. Is anything harmful at that level of dilution?

Yes there are different things that are toxic at that level. As for rocket fuel, I have no idea.

BOARDS:

TOPICS:

Portland, OR

November 2002

NOV 30, 2004 10:18 PM

randomcharacters

I'm lost

August 2004

DEC 01, 2004 03:58 AM

Portland, OR

October 2004

DEC 01, 2004 04:40 AM

Atlanta, GA

July 2002

DEC 01, 2004 04:46 AM

United Kingdom

September 2002

DEC 01, 2004 05:19 AM

Los Angeles, CA

January 2003

DEC 01, 2004 05:46 AM

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO

April 2004

DEC 01, 2004 07:27 AM

Portland, OR

March 2003

DEC 01, 2004 08:49 AM

United Kingdom

June 2004

DEC 01, 2004 09:58 AM

North Hollywood, CA

December 2003

DEC 01, 2004 10:06 AM

Seattle, WA

June 2003

DEC 01, 2004 10:51 AM

Oklahoma City, OK

December 2004

DEC 02, 2004 01:46 AM