UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Storing poisons in food containers: A preventable tragedy

Keywords: toxins, misperceived for edible, food containers (PubMed Search)

Posted: 2/4/2026 by Kathy Prybys, MD
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Transfer and storage of substances to unlabeled or mislabeled food containers is a common occurrence and poses a significant poisoning hazard
Plastic drink bottles (soda, water, milk, sports) are the most common secondary containers in exposures
Food imitating products (brightly colored, sweet smelling or tasting, similarity in color or consistency to known food products) are particularly hazardous
Cleaning products and hydrocarbons are the most cited transferred products
Serious toxicity is reported from herbicides (paraquat), corrosive chemicals, nicotine products, rodenticides, hydrocarbons, and glycols (antifreeze and brake fluids)
Identification of substances in unlabeled containers can be difficult. In the case of an ingestion of an unknown substance medical observation is recommended
Prevention is key… Never reuse food containers for storage of substances. Always keep substances in their original containers with manufacturer labels intact. Never store chemicals in the same cabinet, shelf, or area as food.

References

Poisonings due to storage in a secondary container reported to the National Poison Data System, 2007–2017. Carpenter J., Murray B. et al., Clinical Toxicology, 2021.59(6), 521–527.

Poisoning following exposure to chemicals stored in mislabelled or unlabelled containers: a recipe for potential disaster. Millard YC, Slaughter RL, et al. New Zealand Med J. 26 September 2014, Vol 127 No 1403.

Unintentional poisoning from decanted toxic household chemicals. Von Fabeck K, Boulamery A, et al. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2023 Mar;61(3):186-189.

Antifreeze on a freezing morning: ethylene glycol poisoning in a 2-year-old. Hann G, Duncan D, et al. BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Mar

Epidemiology of Accidental Poisoning Caused by Storage of Non-Food Substances in Food Containers and unmarked Bottles/Containers. Geller RJ, Kezirian R, Bangar P, Strong D, Carlson T. Children’s Hospital Central California; California Poison Control System (CPCS). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15563650903076924