Buzz
Food is rarely the first thing we associate with disasters. Typically, our minds jump to natural calamities like wildfires, hurricanes, floods, or tsunamis, or the devastation caused by droughts, conflicts, and famines. Industrial accidents have also been prevalent throughout history, ranging from early factory fires and machinery mishaps to modern-day toxic spills.
Yet, it might surprise you to learn that food production can sometimes be perilous. Many everyday food items can become hazardous under certain conditions. Fires, floods, and even explosions have been sparked by seemingly harmless foods.
10. London Beer Flood
While a flood of beer might sound like a fantasy for beer enthusiasts, it was a nightmare for the residents of one of London’s poorest neighborhoods in 1814. They were suddenly overwhelmed by a deluge of ale, turning their streets into a river of alcohol.
On October 17 of that year, a massive beer vat at the Meux and Co. Brewery ruptured after a metal ring gave way. This triggered an unusual domino effect, causing the vat to knock over nearby kegs and unleash more than 1.47 million liters (388,000 gallons) of beer into the surrounding area.
The colossal wave of beer surged through the brewery's wall, tragically drowning a waiter in a nearby tavern before flooding Great Russell Street. While some locals reportedly seized the opportunity for a 'free pint,' the surrounding homes suffered significant damage. The beer tidal wave claimed seven lives, with most casualties occurring in a narrow lane behind the brewery, where residents were trapped by the sudden onslaught.
The coroner ruled the incident a natural disaster, albeit an extraordinarily strange one.
9. Boston’s Great Molasses Flood
In 1919, a tragic incident at the Purity Distilling Company plant left a Boston neighborhood in a sticky catastrophe. Unseasonably high temperatures caused an 8.7-million-liter (2.3 million gallons) molasses tank to rupture and explode. The resulting flood of molasses destroyed nearby structures, claiming 21 lives and injuring 150 people, as reported by contemporary news sources.
The explosion damaged several buildings, and the ensuing molasses wave carried debris into the flood, which eventually reached the harbor. The force of the blast was so intense that it damaged a section of the Boston Railway when debris fell onto the tracks. The area was reportedly filled with the lingering scent of molasses for months afterward.
Investigations revealed that the explosion was caused by a combination of a structural flaw in the tank and the unusually warm weather. Today, a plaque on Commercial Street serves as a reminder of this strange and tragic event.
8. Fruit Juice Flood
When agricultural prices drop, markets can become oversaturated with fruit. Farmers often sell their produce for processing into juice. However, a Russian town experienced a literal flood of fruit juice after a warehouse accident in 2017.
The roof of a beverage factory in Lebedyan collapsed, injuring two workers. The warehouse's stock of packaged fruit juices was damaged as the roof caved in. During rescue efforts, several tons of mixed juice spilled out, flooding the town.
Efforts to stop the sticky river of juice flowing through the streets were unsuccessful. The juice eventually reached the River Don. Thankfully, no lives were lost, and the trapped workers were hospitalized with minor injuries.
7. Tapioca Tanker Disaster
In 1972, a Swiss freighter nearly sank after accidentally creating the world’s largest tapioca pudding in its hull. The Cassarate was carrying lumber and grains when a fire broke out in the timber decks. Crews spent 25 days dousing the flames to control the blaze.
Meanwhile, water from firefighting efforts leaked into the lower decks, where tapioca was stored. The combination of water and heat from the fire effectively 'cooked' the tapioca into a dessert massive enough to serve a million people. This caused the grain to expand, nearly splitting the ship’s hull.
The tanker urgently docked in Cardiff, Wales. Firefighters worked to extinguish the lumber fire while facing the daunting task of disposing of 500 truckloads of tapioca pudding.
6. Glasgow Distillery Fire
In the past, whiskey quality was tested by its ability to catch fire. This characteristic, however, led to one of Scotland’s most devastating disasters. A 1960 fire at a Glasgow distillery caused massive vats of pure alcohol to explode, scattering debris across the area. The alcohol-fueled blaze sent blue flames soaring, visible throughout the city.
The Arbuckle, Smith, and Co. Limited warehouse on Cheapside Street stored more than 3.8 million liters (one million gallons) of whiskey and over 117,000 liters (31,000 gallons) of proof rum. A fire that erupted in the warehouse caused the highly flammable alcohol to explode, destroying a nearby tobacco warehouse and several other structures.
More than 400 firefighters responded to the scene, which was dubbed Britain’s most severe peacetime fire. As the bond store's walls collapsed, 19 firefighters lost their lives while battling the blaze, which took a week to fully extinguish.
5. Norwegian Goat Cheese Fire
While cheese may seem harmless, its flammable nature is worth noting, especially when melting it on toast. This property was dramatically demonstrated during a truck accident in Norway.
In 2013, a truck carrying Brunost cheese caught fire in the Tysfjord tunnel in Northern Norway. The driver noticed flames at the rear of the vehicle and abandoned it about 300 meters (1,000 feet) into the tunnel. The cheese's high sugar and fat content caused it to burn intensely, releasing toxic fumes throughout the tunnel.
Emergency crews had to wait for the toxic fumes from the burning cheese to dissipate before starting recovery efforts. The tunnel remained closed for several weeks due to the extensive damage caused by the unusual fire.
4. Washburn A Mill Fire
In 1878, Minneapolis residents were startled by a massive explosion at a flour mill, which claimed the lives of 18 workers. The fire began in the basement of the Washburn A Mill, the town’s largest employer. Witnesses described seeing the fire spread floor by floor through the seven-story building, eventually reducing the massive stone structure to rubble.
The fire erupted during a shift change, leaving workers no time to escape before the flour ignited, triggering a series of explosions. Within minutes, the explosive blaze destroyed the building, hurled debris into nearby mills, and killed four more people. The force of the blasts led residents in neighboring towns to believe an earthquake had struck.
A coroner’s investigation determined that the explosions were fueled by highly flammable flour dust.
3. Gunnedah Pet Food Explosion
In 2003, a series of explosions at an Australian pet food factory caused over AUD $10 million in damages.
Residents of Gunnedah initially mistook the explosions for an earthquake when the pet food plant erupted late one night. The blast from a boiler explosion was felt up to 20 kilometers (12 miles) away, damaging over 30 homes and ten nearby buildings. Shattered windows, flying debris, and a scene resembling a 'war zone' were reported.
Witnesses described a mushroom cloud rising from the plant as wheat dust ignited. LPG gas cylinders inside the facility continued to explode, causing repeated explosions throughout the night as emergency teams evacuated residents and worked to contain the disaster.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the explosions, though the building was swiftly reduced to a tangled heap of metal beams.
2. German Chocolate Flood
Streets covered in chocolate might sound like something out of a fairy tale, but for the residents of Westonnen, Germany, this became a reality in December 2018.
In a scene reminiscent of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, a vat of liquid chocolate at the DreiMeister factory overflowed. More than a ton of melted chocolate spilled into the streets, hardening rapidly in the cold winter air. Chocolate enthusiasts among the residents were kept at bay as workers took on the sticky task of cleaning up the mess.
Roads remained closed for hours as cleanup crews used shovels and blowtorches to clear the hardened chocolate from the streets. Unlike Hansel and Gretel, no one was allowed to sample the sweet mess. The manufacturer assured customers that the incident wouldn’t disrupt chocolate supplies for the holiday season.
1. Hawaiian Molasses Spill
Although no lives were lost, Hawaii’s molasses spill created a sticky environmental issue.
Sugarcane plantations near Honolulu process their harvest and ship it to the mainland. In 2013, a pipeline carrying molasses to cargo ships in Honolulu Harbor developed a leak. Over 871,000 liters (230,000 gallons) of molasses spilled into the harbor, causing environmental damage comparable to a large oil spill.
Thousands of fish and other marine creatures suffocated in the thick, sugary sludge. Fortunately, the spill was easier to resolve than an oil spill. Since sugar dissolves in water, the sticky substance eventually dispersed, allowing the harbor’s water quality to return to normal.
