American Coffee

The Boston Herald has been following this interesting story…six researchers, students and doctors in Harvard’s pathology department fell ill after drinking from the same espresso coffee machine Aug. 26th. The cause has been determined as sodium azide, a toxin often compared with cyanide and commonly used in medical laboratories as a preservative. Sodium azide can be fatal in high doses, causing respiratory failure.

Harvard University officials disclosed in an internal e-mail Friday that the poison had been identified and that greater security measures were being implemented.

Does that mean the coffee had been intentionally poisoned? At least one of the researchers believes it was, although University officials have declined to comment on the matter.

Just one more reason to select a pod brewer or a single serve k-cup coffee maker for the office! Each pod or k-cup is sealed and brewed “on demand”. Unless you share sugar or cream with 200 other office dwellers, you are probably much safer with a Keurig.