UKC

I popped one of those "rechargeable" handwarmers in the kettle last Monday and boiled it. Then I forgot about it.

I found it again today and it has burst and I have consumed it's contents! A search suggests the contents may have been sodium acetate which is used in food (A.K.A. E262) so I'm not too bothered if that's what it was.

But what else could it have been and should I be worried?

Thanks.

Neil MacColdhands.

In reply to Cobbler:

When I were a lad and used to eat ReadyBrek,we always joked that we glowed like the boy in the advert who looked like he lived inside Sellafield.

Try phoning you local pharmacist, they can look up the details of the handwarmers ingredients and tell you about their potential effects.

In reply to Cobbler:

Yes you will.
Although I suspect not of ingesting that.
Do you still have the packaging to see what that says?

In reply to Cobbler:

There's no gentle way to put this - you are going to die - probably not from this though.......

In reply to Cobbler:

a small amount of googling gives this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_acetate

...used in consumer heating pads or hand warmers...

and

...A frequent use is to impart a salt and vinegar flavor to potato chips....

so you might not die after all.

In reply to cezza:

Sodium acetate is a salt formed from ethanoic (acetic) acid, i.e. vinegar, so is safe for consumption. Though possibly not in the amounts found in a hand warmer!

In reply to didntcomelast:

Good call! I know a pharmacist so will ask him.


youtube.com/watch?v=i1KUoS3mmvM&

In reply to above:

Packaging long gone and no clues on the shrivelled remains (the handwarmer's - not mine... yet!) of a manufacturer.

I saw that particular Wikipedia page which is why I'm not too concerned if it was sodium acetate.

The wiki page for handwarmers says they "typically" contain sodium acetate but I can't find reference to anything else they may contain. I suppose if it was anything particularly toxic I wouldn't be posting here!

Still, I wonder what else it could have been?

In reply to Cobbler:

You won't die but you may feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

In reply to Cobbler:

Have a look at 'Toxbase' on the internet. You may have to go through NHS Direct though to get advice as a punter. Toxbase is used by A&E departments for poisoning advice etc.... sounds like you should be fine though!

In reply to Cobbler:

You will not die. But you will find you no longer need clothes in winter. Just lower yourself into a scolding hot bath for ten minutes and you've over three hours of heating until you need recharging .

In reply to Cobbler:


Yes. Your coffee must be rank if you cannot taste the hand warmer in the water use to make a brew. Get some filter coffee.

In reply to Dave Perry:

PMSL. Brilliant.

In reply to Billy the fish:


<like>

In reply to Dave Perry:

Brilliant! But seriously - that WOULD be brilliant!

In reply to Billy the fish:

Funny you should mention that...

A couple of days last week I thought a few brews (Lavazza coffee) tasted SALTY despite the sugar I'd added! Knowing that taste can be affected I was beginning to wonder if I'd had a stroke. The fact that the handwarmer contained a sodium explains that!

Neil: Doctor, I think I may have had a stroke.
Doc : Have you been on the handwarmers again?


Anyone fancy a brew?

In reply to Cobbler:


You put sugar in coffee? Now eventually that will kill you!

In reply to Cobbler:

Funny posting, Thanks for making me smile. ( it was well needed)

In reply to Cobbler:

careful you don't click your joints!

In reply to Dave Garnett:

Only at home when no one is looking, Dave! My dirty little secret... oh...

In reply to Blizzard:

Not much happens in my quiet little life but when it does it's probably going to be something weird! Hope you're smiling more soon.

In reply to Dan Arkle:

Very good!

In reply to Cobbler:

This has to be considered a late contender for thread title of the year

In reply to Cobbler:

Are you still alive?

In reply to Cobbler:

This thread brightened up my morning, Thank you.

In reply to Cobbler:

NeilMac - are you still alive? UKC needs to know.

In reply to FesteringSore and Robbo and any other "concerned of UKC":

Alive and kicking! Sadly I've not developed any superhero type powers.

Thank you for your concern.

Hang on a minute!

YES!!

I have developed the power to gently warm things just by touching them!

In reply to Kimono:

Thanks! What's the prize?

In reply to Cobbler:

If you stand in the corner you might work as a rechargeable light source for reading.