Headaches from OJ?

[DmOrtega]

I agree with funnybone, get it checked out.

[kwormann]

Beth, Hope Chris is ok! I agree with checking with the manufacturer!

Kim

[makedah]

Gosh, that sounds awful. Definitely check it out.

[Beth]

Everyone seems fine, and I did call the 800 number on the carton. They said they had not heard anything like this, would refer it to their quality control people and have them get in touch with me. And they asked me not to drink or dump the remaining OJ. Haven't heard anything further. I was hoping one of our food pros would have some insight. I thought about calling poison control, but since everyone seems okay, I don't think it requires emergency measures. I'll let you know what I find out.

[Beth]

I'd appreciate any insights on this little drama at our house:

Last night, my son had some orange juice at dinner. Later in the evening, he was screaming with a headache he said hurt so bad he couldn't stand it. He also complained of being very hot, but his temp was around 97. A couple of Motrin and a tepid bath later, he said he hurt all over and was obviously tired, but otherwise okay.

This morning, he didn't want any OJ and said he thought it was the "bad-tasting pizza and the orange juice last night." I asked what he meant and he said "oh, nothing." He drank milk with breakfast and went off to school. My younger son had the same orange juice this morning. He drove with me when we took my husband to the airport this morning. As we were driving, he started complaining about not feeling well, having a headache and then hurting all over. He also said he didn't like the orange juice in that blue carton (a different brand than I usually buy).

I had not had any of the juice out of that carton, so I tried some out of his cup. It wasn't the best tasting, but didn't think it tasted bad. However, a little later, I had this metallic taste in my mouth. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night, plus I get a lot of headaches from my neck problems, so I can't say for sure that my head hurt because of a couple fo sips of juice, but it did hurt. The headache is better now and the metallic taste is gone.

Bottom line: I'm not using the rest of the juice and I'm feeling a little guilt over thinking the first son was just falling apart at bedtime. Does anyone know of anything that could get into juice or food generally, leave a metallic taste and cause headaches? If so, is there anything to be concerned about omce the headaches are gone? Thanks for your patience getting through this long post and for any thoughts.

[funnybone]

I would contact the manufacturer of the OJ and explain what happened. It is possible that during production something got into it. Also, other people may have reported that same thing. In that case, they would either check the product out with their quality control dept., or even force a recall. I would not drink any more OJ from that carton though. The metallic taste thing really concerns me.

[Julie O]

Beth,

Does the orange juice have an unusual odor to it? Several things come to mind that can cause a metallic taste, so it would help if you could tell if there's an unusual odor to it. Particularly, solvent, sulfur, fishy, etc.

The soft drink industry regularly monitors their output (cans & bottles) for metallic taste. They actually have in-house tasters to check it. For them, it is particularly a problem with long term storage.

Also, could you list the ingredients listed on the container?

Is it a plastic or paper container?

I suspect that you'll definitely hear back from the manufacturer. If not, call them back because they definitely need to investigate this.

[Beth]

Julie, it is a paper half gallon container with orange juice concentrate, water, tricalcium phosphate and Vitamin D3 (I assume that's added in conjunction with the calcium). It has something of an off odor to it when you stick your nose right down to the carton. I can't pin it down, but it kind of smells like OJ and something sour or rotting. The pull date on the carton was May 2nd. Thanks for any insghts.

I have not heard back from them and am about to call again. This must be my day or week for non-customer service. I've already spent 2 hrs with 2 phone companies and came on-line to send an e-mail to one of them. Rrrrrrr.

[This message has been edited by Beth (edited 04-24-2001).]

[DmOrtega]

You might have better luck if you go thru your doctor. Your doctor should know about this anyway. It never hurts to error on the side of caution, especially when you are dealing with health issues. Please keep us informed.


What brand was it?

[Julie O]

Beth,

Could it actually be a bitter (not metallic) taste? People often get the two confused.

By off smelling, do you think it might be growing something or could it be chemical?

I'm still brainstorming about the possiblities. I'd be surprised if it was a biological problem, probably chemical. Have you ever had the calcium fortified juices before? Some of them are funny tasting because they have to add stuff to balance the calcium that was added. But, I haven't yet thought of what could cause both the metallic taste and the headaches. I wonder if the headaches are actually related. Hmm..probably. Very curious to hear what the manufacturer thinks.

Hmm...Is this a Minute Maid product? I wonder if they ever mix their juices in the same plant that makes soft drinks?? (Thinking out loud)

I doubt if a doctor will be much help, esp. if it is chemical. Even when they have a detailed description of a specific chemical someone has been exposed to, they usually don't know what to do about it. (personal experience, though, may not be true everywhere). Just make sure you keep the juice. They may want you to send it back so they can test it.

[Ralph]

Originally posted by Julie O:
I doubt if a doctor will be much help, esp. if it is chemical. Even when they have a detailed description of a specific chemical someone has been exposed to, they usually don't know what to do about it. (personal experience, though, may not be true everywhere). Just make sure you keep the juice. They may want you to send it back so they can test it.

From a doctor's perspective, I'll have to agree with you, Julie. I'm a family physician with no training in toxicology or forensics, so you're right: I wouldn't be that much help! Sorry....

Beth, you might try to contact your local poison control center; they may provide you with better guidance to identify the offending, shall I say, "contaminant."

[jmarie]

I know a manager at a fast food restaurant where they keep the OJ frozen. They always have to take it out of the freezer to allow it to thaw....However, if they get too busy and the OJ thaws and then gets to room temp, they have to throw it away. He said that bacteria sets up in warm OJ and that it poses a health danger when consumed. Maybe the OJ was allowed to get to room temp at the store...People irritate me when they put these things in their buggies and then you find stuff all over the store because they changed their minds...there it is...something that should be refrigerated temp and now it is warm and instead of throwing it away...they take it right back to the cooler for the next poor Joe to buy. I have seen this with meats and everything....But I do wonder if the OJ became contaminated when it got to room temperature somewhere along the line.

[Beth]

Thanks everyone. I've not been here for a couple of days. I did try my pediatrician's office and the nurse just wanted to schedule an appointment, which would be useless after all the problems had subsided, and ask me 48 times what medication I had given him and how for the asthma. I love our pediatrician, but did not recognize this nurse and was not impressed. I thought about poison control but thought it was an emergency number and I should not tie up their line when we had gotten past the crisis before realizing there might be a connection.

I also noticed that my son had sinus headaches amd his asthma triggered after the major headache and such (we just had a big rain and the air quality has been very good). My gut feeling is either a coincidence or a pesticide residue. I an akkergic to pyrethins which normally don't bother people, and I am learning that he may have my sensitivities.

I still have the rest of the OJ and meant to take it back to the store so it could be tested. DH was out of town most of the week, and I've had a wild one. Since he seems okay now, it fell off the priority list. I will have to go to the grocery store this weekend, so I may still take it in.

BTW, it was the store brand, Kroger. I usually buy Tropicanna or Minute Maid, and I have bought a lot of calcium fortified OJ over the last 3 years since my younger son refused to drink milk after when it didn't come out of a bottle and he doesn't like much cheese, except on pizza. The metallic taste I noticed was as distinct as having a metal pipe or a piece of foil in your mouth, but it came after the juice, not while actually drinking it.

Thanks again. This may be one of those times you never know for sure what happened.