Missouri tofu spill sparks insurance dispute
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- Missouri tofu spill: 18,000 kg (40,000 lb) of extra‑firm tofu spilled after a road accident, rotted for three weeks, and triggered an insurance dispute.
- Local officials: Described the odor as “unforgettable” and “like a dead animal, but worse”.
- Ethanethiol: The compound, also called methyl mercaptan, is added to UK mains gas so leaks can be detected by smell.
- Derek Lowe: Cited the 1889 Freiburg thioacetone incident, where an offensive smell caused fainting, vomiting, and panic evacuation.
- Readers: Shared anecdotes about historically foul odors, mentioning durian fruit, tanneries, rotting potatoes, a Nairobi warehouse of untreated cattle hides, and a whaling station.
- Thames: The 1858 “Great Stink” of the river prompted Parliament to fund a new sewage system.
Why it matters: The insurance dispute over the 18‑ton tofu loss directly impacts the trucking company and insurer, while the vivid public reaction underscores how extreme odors can become a community concern, prompting officials to address health and safety perceptions and highlight the need for clearer odor‑control protocols.
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