I’ve never once asked myself on the first Fireball shot of the night, “Hmm, I wonder if this is good for me,” let alone on the last, but some people seem to think there is actual cause for concern, besides just the obvious destruction of your liver. Apparently, and this was news to me, the United States has more lax food regulations concerning certain things than our neighbors across the big pond, as the European Union has something against propylene glycol.
Propylene glycol is used in products from de-icing fluid to the liquid in electronic cigarettes to oral medications that would otherwise be water-insoluble, and is also a common snack food preservative. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies this compound as “generally recognized as safe.” The European Union, however, has some stricter standards concerning recommended levels.
I bet you’ve already guessed what commonly favorite bottle-boat to Blackout Island also contains propylene glycol.
Yup, Fireball.
According to Finland’s national public broadcasting company, YLE, Finland’s state alcohol monopoly, Alko, has filed a complaint and recalled Fireball from its shelves, claiming Fireball as excessive levels of propylene glycol. Fireball is still up to US alcohol standards, but we are also the country that allows small amounts of rat shit in our candy bars. Swedish state alcohol retailer, Systembolaget, also pulled Fireball from distribution after this claim. I’m not sure what excessive levels of propylene glycol do to a person (other than make me fall down and rack up a double digit tab at Taco Bell), but these alcohol retailers aren’t happy about it.
Whether this will affect the stock on U.S. shelves is yet to be seen, considering Fireball is manufactured by the Sazerac Company right here in the good ol’ U. S. of A. Louisiana to be exact. I don’t foresee there being a huge issue, but on the off chance you can’t find a bottle of your favorite vomit flavor enhancer at your favorite watering hole or liquor store, I guess we can all figure out what the hell ever happened to Hot Damn..
[via YLE]
Turn down for propylene glycol.
Next thing you know, they’re telling us that our childhood toys had toxic lead paint on them. You’re not fooling me, European Obama!
First four loko, now fireball. They have to take everything!!
They took the bar! The whole fucking bar!
^This
Fucking nanny state socialists over there. I should be able to drink poison if I want to. ‘Murica
You really have nothing to worry about. 1) It’s next to impossible to obtain the acute toxicity just from fireball and 2) there’s no evidence of long term toxic effects and 3) it’s not carcinogenic.
Hey, now, don’t you start in with all that “science” and “logic” shit, this is about Freedom, Capital Fuckin’ F.
Challenge accepted.
Stop doing that.
They just made europeans even more miserable than they already are. Can’t wait till Fireball Friday. Merica
This is ridiculous. Fireball is not going anywhere.. They accidentally sent a US shipment to EU instead of their usual order.. There is worse stuff in the toothpaste you people use every day. Carry on folks!
Wrote this article… Just took a shot of Fireball. If you’ll take note of “I don’t foresee there being a huge issue.”
The picture looks like a POV screenshot.
This explains so much.