Allow me to take you on a brief tour of highlighting the history of food caused disasters.
The London Beer Flood of 1814
by Ben Johnson
Johnson article on Historic UK recounts the tidal wave of beer that flooded the streets in St. Giles, London and killed at least 8 people.
2008 Georgia Sugar Refinery Explosion
Did you know that dust can explode, and the dust can be made of anything: wood pulp, cotton, flour, cornstarch, or sugar. Yes, sugar can explode. In 2008 a sugar refinery explosion in Georgia killed 14 and injured 40.
Norway Goat Cheese Fire Closes Tunnel
BBC News reports in 2013 27 tonnes of caramelized goat cheese caught fire as it was being driven through a tunnel in northern Norway. The fire remained blazing for five days and released toxic gas that slowed down the recovery operation.
Washburn A Mill Explosion, 1878
by Iric Nathanson
Nathanson describes how on the evening of 1878 the Washburn A Mill exploded in a series of thunderous explosions. All fourteen workers on duty for the night shift were killed by rapidly burning flour dust.
Tapioca Sinks Freighter
In 1972 a the upper holds of a Swiss Freighter carrying tapioca mix caught fire. The crew tried to keep the fire under control until they could dock by wetting down the wood for 25 days. The combination of heat and water swelled and cooked the tapioca until it weighed down the ship.
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The night a river of whiskey ran through the streets of Dublin
by Dean Ruxton
Ruxton, on the Irish Times, recounts the story where a fire spreading through the city of Dublin burst the wooden casks holding whiskey until they burst open and sent the burning liquid down the streets.
1998 DeBruce Grain elevator explosion
A slide show on The Wichita Eagle shows the aftermath of the explosion of the DeBruce Grain elevator in 1998 killing two men and injuring six others.
The explosion that rocked Cedar Rapids: 100 year anniversary of Douglas Starch Works explosion
By Alison Gowans
Gowans, on the Gazette, recounts how more than 100 years ago an explosion at the a cornstarch factory blew out windows throughout town, killed 43 workers, and collapsed the factory.