Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1964; 13(29): 250.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1964, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A group of 35 pre-school age children all experienced vomiting from 30 to 45 minutes after drinking a raspberry flavored beverage at a Chicago Sunday school Halloween party. Some children also became pallid, others dizzy. Three were hospitalized for less than 24 hours. No fatalities occurred. Only this drink and potato chips were served. Because of the rapid onset of symptoms, the premises were care- fully inspected for evidence of insecticides, rodenticides, and other toxic materials. None was found.

The investigators learned that the beverage had been prepared by mixing the contents of several packages of the raspberry powder with sugar and water in an old porcelain roasting pan, and then refrigerated for 40 hours prior to serving. No trace of chemical could be found in the powder concentrate or in the potato chips. Antimony was detected in the small quantity of remaining beverage and from acid washings of the pan; insufficient quantity remained for quantitative analysis. Accordingly, the Chicago Board of Health laboratory workers repeated the entire procedure, using the same roasting pan; 2.8 mg. percent antimony was detected. (Reported by Samuel L. Andelman, Commissioner, Chicago Board of Health).

Editor's Note: Antimony is often contained in the binding between the enamel and metal, especially in older utensils. Apparently, the citric acid partially dissolved the binding behind the pan's worn enamel coat, thus releasing sufficient antimony to cause the symptoms experienced by the children.