Corn Oil? Torch Fuel? Apple Juice? A Fatal Mistake

The Full Story

An 84-year-old woman died after a family member poured torch fuel into a glass. She drank it, thinking it was apple juice. An eight-year-old girl has permanent lung damage after making the same mistake. Several other people also drank torch fuel, mistaking it for juice or another drink.

A look at the photos tells much of the story. These products look alike in the bottle. The liquid is the same color, the bottles are of similar heights, and the caps look alike. And when poured out of their bottles, it's impossible to tell the difference.

Torch fuel, sometimes called torch oil, is poured into many varieties of "tiki torches" or "patio torches" used for outdoor lighting in warm weather. Many merchants sell them in bamboo or metal. The "torch" or lantern portion sits on top of a long pole that is usually put into the ground or a bucket of sand. The torch fuel may contain an insect repellant such as citronella or lemon grass.

If swallowed, torch fuel can easily slide down into the lungs instead of going into the stomach. This causes pneumonia and also prevents the lungs from absorbing oxygen. Even small amounts in the lungs can be life-threatening or fatal.

Don't make a fatal mistake!

• Store poisons and food in different places.
• Do NOT put poisons into food containers. Keep poisons in their original containers.
• Put the child-resistant cap firmly back in place after using torch fuel or other products.
• Read the label before eating, drinking, or taking medicine. Be sure it's the right thing BEFORE you put it into your mouth!

If you do make a mistake - with torch fuel or anything else - use the webPOISONCONTROL^® online tool or call Poison Control right away at 1-800-222-1222. Around the clock, Poison Control will tell you exactly what to do.

Rose Ann Gould Soloway, RN, BSN, MSEd, DABAT emerita
Clinical Toxicologist