Buzz
Food is the cornerstone of our existence, providing the energy and nourishment we need to thrive. It ranges from nutritious options to indulgent treats, and can be prepared quickly or enjoyed leisurely. The flavors of food span from fiery spices to sugary delights, and it can be organic or heavily processed. Food is a versatile and essential part of life, offering endless possibilities.
While most of us consume the food we purchase, some inventive individuals have found unconventional uses for it. As demonstrated in the following examples, food can serve as a powerful tool – whether in its natural form or cleverly disguised as something far more dangerous.
10. Avocado Grenades
According to the California Department of Public Health, avocado trees originated in Mexico around 7,000 years ago. Packed with monounsaturated fatty acids, also known as healthy fats, avocados help reduce bad cholesterol while boosting the good kind. They can be enjoyed in sandwiches, salads, or, for the daring, even as part of a bank heist.
Believe it or not, in June 2019, a man in Israel executed two bank robberies using an avocado. He painted it black and managed to convince bank staff that the harmless fruit was actually a grenade.
The 47-year-old entered a Postal Bank in a large shopping mall and handed a cashier a note demanding, 'Hand over the money in the drawer.' The note even had a misspelled word. When the cashier hesitated, the man grew impatient and threatened, 'Put the money in the bag quickly, or I’ll throw this grenade.' Five days later, he repeated the same stunt, successfully making off with a total of $8,300 USD.
Fortunately, authorities tracked the man using cell phone data and arrested him soon after.
9. Spaghetti Sauce Bomb
In 2013, a bomb squad was dispatched to the Fifth Third Bank in Clinton Township, Michigan, after a woman robbed the bank and left behind a bag she claimed contained an explosive device.
The police quickly secured the area by setting up a perimeter around the bank. After the bomb squad completed their inspection, they discovered no explosives. Instead, they uncovered two cans of tomato sauce.
A few days later, authorities located and arrested Ophelia Amelia Neal, charging her with bank robbery. Even though her supposed 'bomb' was merely tomato sauce cans, she was also charged with explosives-related offenses.
8. Christmas Ham Incoming
Families often struggle to agree on a date for holiday gatherings. Conflicting schedules can create stress and tension, sometimes escalating to arguments and emotional strain.
For one family in London, Kentucky, a disagreement over the timing of Christmas dinner escalated into a more serious situation, resulting in a charge of 4th degree assault.
Clearly overwhelmed and pushed beyond his limits, 21-year-old David D. Brannon snapped and hurled a Christmas ham at a woman.
Upon arrival, police discovered Brannon attempting to flee the scene. They apprehended him and took him into custody. During their investigation, officers noticed several items scattered across the kitchen floor.
In addition to the assault charge, Brannon was also charged with evading law enforcement.
7. Assault With A Deadly High Five
Food allergies are a serious matter. According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), 32 million Americans suffer from food allergies, and every three minutes, someone is admitted to the emergency room due to an allergic reaction.
During the winter of 2018 in Butler Township, UK, a 14-year-old girl was urgently taken to the hospital after experiencing an allergic reaction to pineapple during lunch at Butler Intermediate High School. She hadn’t consumed the tropical fruit, as she was aware of her allergy. Her symptoms began only after another 14-year-old girl high-fived her.
It was later revealed that the other girl knew about the victim’s pineapple allergy and acted intentionally. As a result, she faced charges in juvenile court for assault, conspiracy, and other offenses. Two additional girls were also charged with conspiracy.
Further investigation revealed that the victim’s allergy was widely known, and pineapple was not served at the school during that time. The fruit had been brought from home by someone.
'This was a deliberate act,' stated Lieutenant Matt Pearson. 'They sat at the lunch table next to her and discussed carrying it out. While some had doubts, they proceeded with the plan.'
6. Breakfast Is Served…In Man’s Face
Bacon and eggs are as essential to breakfast as trees and presents are to Christmas – they’re inseparable. However, for a 19-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, they ended up being inseparable from someone’s face.
A group of people were enjoying breakfast at a local restaurant one Monday morning when a 19-year-old man at the table became agitated. He grabbed the bacon and eggs from his plate and hurled them at another man sitting nearby. Police reported that the victim was left disoriented, injured, and required hospitalization.
Hamilton Constable Steve Welton provided the messy details, stating, 'The food itself was the weapon, and the intention was to cause harm or injury…This was not an accident, and officers gathered sufficient evidence to support the charges.'
5. Vegaterrorian
Cucumbers offer numerous health benefits, such as keeping you hydrated, aiding in waste elimination, and potentially reducing the risk of cancer development.
If Gary Rough from Glasgow, Scotland, had simply eaten the cucumber he was carrying, he would have reaped its numerous health benefits and avoided jail time altogether.
Instead, he concealed the cucumber in a black sock, entered a betting shop in Shettleston, and tried to rob an employee. When she refused to hand over any money, Rough was subdued and arrested by an off-duty police officer. It was only then that the black sock was removed, revealing the 'weapon' to be nothing more than a cucumber.
Rough attempted to justify his actions, stating, 'It was a dare… Am I really going to jail for this?' He added, 'I realize it was foolish – I’m not a robber. It was a joke that went too far.'
Prosecutor Sheena Fraser described Rough as being armed with a 'long, cylindrical object wrapped in a black sock.'
Rough’s defense attorney, Tony Graham, explained, 'While he knew it was just a vegetable in a sock, he understands it might have appeared threatening to others.'
Ultimately, the 28-year-old Rough received a sentence of 3 years and 4 months in prison.
4. Soup Assault Of The Day
Every mall features a food court, which can become loud and packed during peak hours. While it’s common for people to occasionally irritate one another – perhaps exchanging glares or sharp words – it’s rare for anything more serious to occur. However, in an extraordinary incident, a pair of senior citizens decided to use soup as a weapon.
In the summer of 2019, at a mall in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, two elderly individuals got into a heated argument with a 43-year-old woman. The situation escalated when the couple poured hot soup on her. Police were called, and the pair was arrested and removed from the premises.
Fortunately, according to authorities, the woman did not sustain any life-threatening injuries.
3. Pizza Pummeling
A man from Pasco County, Florida, had an unexpected reaction upon learning that his father had assisted in delivering him at birth – he assaulted him with a slice of pizza.
Robert Houston, 33, forced the pizza into his father’s face while holding him down on a chair and shouting at him. According to the police report, 'The victim struggled to free himself, prompting the defendant to go outside and wait for law enforcement.'
When officers arrived at the scene, they observed a chair with a pizza slice on it and cheese and sauce scattered everywhere.
The reason behind Houston’s extreme reaction to the news about his birth remains unclear.
2. Zucchini 1 Bear 0
Bears, members of the Ursidae family, inhabit regions across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. They can live up to 25 years in the wild or 50 years in captivity. Interestingly, at least one bear has a strong dislike for zucchini.
This fact came to light due to the quick thinking of a Montana woman who encountered a 200-pound black bear.
According to Lt. Rich Maricelli of the Missoula Sheriff’s Department, the bear attacked the woman’s dog on her back porch shortly after midnight.
The incident occurred when the woman let her three dogs out for a final bathroom break before bed. Two dogs fled upon spotting the bear, but her collie remained by her side near the doorway. Suddenly, the bear attacked the dog. The woman kicked the bear, which retaliated by slashing her legs and tearing her jeans.
With the bear now fully focused on her, it attempted to enter the house, managing to wedge its head inside before she could shut the door completely. Using one hand to hold the door, she grabbed the nearest object – a 14-inch zucchini from her garden – and hurled it at the bear, striking it on the head. Surprisingly, this worked, and the bear fled.
Fortunately, both the woman and her collie escaped serious injury and recovered quickly.
1. Potato Thug
An intruder breaking into your home is terrifying, but it might be slightly less so if the weapon they wield is something you’d typically top with sour cream or butter and enjoy as a snack.
In September 2018, a woman in Lake Tahoe, California, defended herself against a man who barged into her home and threatened her with a potato carved with the first letter of her name.
William James Best, 41, was present because of an ongoing dispute between the woman and his girlfriend. Wielding a potato, Best repeatedly made threats toward the woman. However, police soon arrived and took him into custody.
Best claimed to police that carrying the potato would 'enhance his punching strength,' explaining why he was armed with it.
Best received a one-year prison sentence and was placed under supervised probation.
