Tainted Baby Food, the Poison Ricin Found
BREAKING NEWS
SANTA ANA — Non-lethal traces of the poison ricin were found in a baby food jar containing banana yogurt and a note claiming the product had been contaminated, an FBI agent said today.
Matt McLaughlin of the Los Angeles FBI office confirmed that trace amounts of the potentially fatal substance were found in some of the food tested.
The Food and Drug Administration also is involved in the case, he said, because it appears to be a "case of product tampering."
Authorities do not believe the small amounts of ricin, made from ground-up castor beans, could have hurt anyone seriously, ABC7 Eyewitness News reported.
On June 16 -- for the second time in three weeks -- someone feeding a baby banana yogurt found such a threatening note, according to Irvine police.
A father told police he found such a note concealed in a jar of Gerber Banana Yogurt.
According to the missive, the food was contaminated. The writer also made reference to an Irvine police officer, the same as an earlier note did, Lt. Jeff Love of the Irvine Police Department said at the time.
The jar was taken to a lab, where it was checked for fingerprints and possible DNA, Love said.
On May 31, a 9-month-old girl was brought to the Irvine Medical Center by her parents after she ate banana yogurt from a jar that also included a contamination note, Love said.
Both babies who consumed some of the food are fine.
Each time, the note in the jar was wrapped so it wouldn't get saturated by the food, Love said. He said the wording in both notes was also the same, and that police believe both cases are linked.
Police are unsure if the tampering cases represent some sort of retaliation against the officer. Love said neither family has any connection to the unidentified officer.
Love declined to reveal the exact contents of the notes.
In both cases, the District Attorney's Office was asked to join the investigation because of the police officer reference, Love said.
Gerber Banana Yogurt was taken from the store where the jar was thought to have been sold. Police are working with management of the markets and federal agencies, along with Gerber representatives, Love said.
Police also have alerted the management of markets and convenience stores locally that sell Gerber baby food to inspect the jars for possible tampering, Love said.
And residents were urged to ensure food containers are sealed before buying them.
Love said parents should make sure baby food jars make a "popping" sound when opened for the first time. The food should then be poured into a bowl before serving, rather than spooned straight from the jar, Love said.
Brian Levin is a professor of criminal justice at Cal State San Bernardino, where he is part of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.
Levin, who has testified before Congress on the applications of ricin and has written a book called "The Limits of Dissent," said ricin -- usually in powder form -- can be fatal if inhaled or if allowed to come in contact with the skin.
He said it "shuts down the myochondrial functions of the (human) cell," and that death is "very painful" and occurs over the course of a couple of weeks.
He said it is relatively easy to make, but anyone who does is also in jeopardy as well. Levin said a small amount of ricin in the ridges of a small pellet stabbed into a Bulgarian double agent in 1978 was enough to kill him.
Anyone with more information about the case is asked to call Alan Vanderpool, district attorney supervising investigator, at (714) 347-8736.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/072804_nw_tainted_baby_food.html
GROUP THREATENS ALL OF EUROPE
7/28/2004
MESSAGE ADDRESSED TO THE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS BY ABU HAFS AL MASRI BRIGADES
In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful
Abu Hafs Brigades
Al Qaeda
Thanks to God our creator, prayer and peace upon the Mujahideen’s leader, and Imam of the Believers, Muhammad Bin Abdullah.
This message is addressed to the European governments.
Today, we have declared a bloody war against you. We will not stop our attacks, until you have come to your senses. After the expiration of the ultimatum given to you by Sheikh Usama Bin Laden, God preserve him, and since you have not come to your senses, we are declaring a fierce war against you. It is a war against your people who remained silent, and showed no reaction. This silence is an indication of their approval and support of you. We had already started our war, by threatening the Italian government, presided by the miserable Berlusconi. We started with Italy because of its dishonorable and shameful position, in following America, the head of Blasphemy.. Berlusconi, wait for us, you and your allies and supporters. Wait for our menace that we declared against you, and are now declaring against all of Europe.
We will create rivers [falls] of blood that will drag you to its depths. You have condemned your people to that. The blaspheming Europe has done the same to its people by following America.
We will destroy European cities, starting by you Berlusconi. The cities will bleed until all of you, European leaders and people, come to your senses. Withdraw your deadly missions from Iraq. Follow in the footsteps of your predecessors, before you taste the bitterness of blood.
Do not help America or the miserable leader of blasphemy Bush, or else, God willing, you will regret it bitterly.
The oppressors will realize what path they got themselves into.
Abu Hafs Brigades
Al Qaeda
7-28-2004