Posted on 10/29/2010 11:14:07 AM PDT by null and void
A British man died after poisoning himself with two spoonfuls of caffeine powder bought over the internet, local media reported Friday.
Michael Lee Bedford, 23, from Mansfield, central England, was at a party in April when he swallowed caffeine powder that a friend bought online for £3.29 ($5.26), Nottingham Coroners Court heard Thursday. He washed the powder down with an energy drink, and around 15 minutes later began sweating and vomiting blood. He later died at Kings Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire, central England, the Nottingham Post reported.
The court heard that Bedford ignored the product's recommendation to take no more than one sixteenth of a teaspoon and instead took two spoonfuls of the powder -- ingesting a level of caffeine 70 times more than is usually found in a high-energy drink.
Speaking outside the court, Bedfords aunt Sue Burton said, "I think there should be a warning on it saying it can kill."
Nottingham Coroner Dr. Nigel Chapman said, "Caffeine is so freely available on the internet for £3.29, but it's so lethal if taken in the wrong dose, and here we see the consequence. So many people are upset and distraught by the death of Michael."
He also criticized the product, which was not named in the inquest, for recommending such a small dosage, which could be easily ignored. "Who would take [one sixteenth of a teaspoon]? It's such a small dosage -- the warning is so small on the front of it," Chapman said. "If you're sharing a bag, carrying it around, and if you hadn't seen the warning -- it could be that anyone at the party could have taken it. It's so dangerous to take something like this."
He recorded a verdict of accidental death.
WARNING - Not to be taken internally! - Slings and Arrows
In 12 cup drip percolator pot, fill to 6 cup mark with water.
In filter, put 6 heaping scoops of coffee.
Medium roast works best, just make sure its a robust blend.
Found a Maxwellhouse medium roast that was rather anemic.
Put pinch of salt in filter, about as much as it would take to cover the surface of a dime with one even layer.
This keeps the coffee from tasting burned too quickly, it doesnt age well brewed this way.
Brew, recirculate if need be, usually not.
Add sugar and dairy creamer.
Creamora and coffeemate are not recommended unless you like the heart racing that Ranger Pudding gives.
That, and the nondairy creamer will give you both a headache and a buzz with the coffee.
I usually put about 8 spoons of sugar in this stuff, it ends up being like Russian Kava, thick and sweet with that bitter overtone to it.
Oh, and I am NOT responsible for seeming demonic possession of the coffeepot, or the coffeepot ending up acting as if it has been damaged.
Be sure NOT to add creamora or coffeemate to the brew, unless you LIKE ranger pudding style heart racing.
When I brew that stuff for myself, I recirculate the stuff to brew a second time, but thats me for my own personal enjoyment, and it may wreck the coffeepot.
Dont forget the salt, its important to the finished brew.
Caffeine poisoning isn’t fun.
I took a lot of No-Doz once as a teenager. That afternoon was not fun. I haven't had any since.
I think there should be a warning on it saying it shouldn't be used by idiots................
I drink in about 1 Gram of Caffiene a day.
Never heard of caffeine for sale in powder form, nor of anyone offering to share a bag of it they happen to be carrying around.
< punchline>It helps</punchline>
Willie Dixon
You know, if it wasn't so darn tragic, this would be hilarious.
meh...coffee, water, heat. Repeat til awake.
I bought caffeine powder to use in formulating a facial serum. I ended up being quite scared to have it around the house and just flushed it.
I bought caffeine powder to use in formulating a facial serum. I ended up being quite scared to have it around the house and just flushed it.
Do not snort.
A true caffiend.
Who carries around a bag of powdered caffeine and a spoon to snack on it?
Don’t read this: http://www.amazon.com/Buzz-Science-Lore-Alcohol-Caffeine/dp/0140268456
It will destroy too many popular myths about caffeine.
Darks?
* "T W A"
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