What if you were not drinking at all, yet your BAC (blood alcohol content) registers on a Breathalyzer device exactly as if you were? How can that even be possible? It may sound far-fetched and confounding, but there are numerous common foods that can raise your BAC.
It’s a good idea to keep in mind what some of those foods are. Items like bread, pizza and pastry usually contain yeast that has been fermented. That process produces a trace of alcohol as a byproduct. Some recipes, like many for meat, call for wine as an ingredient. All of it may not burn off when it is cooked.
Other food items that can affect a breath test reading
These items can interfere with the outcome of your Breathalyzer:
- Honeybuns
- Cinnamon rolls
- Hot sauce
- Fermented soda
- Protein bars
- Energy drinks
- Fermented fruit
- Macadamia nuts
This certainly doesn’t mean that you should not eat these foods and enjoy them. Just be aware of the possible ramifications that consuming them might have.
Some everyday products can push your BAC up
There are surprises on this list, too. Who would suspect that cough syrup, denture cream, sleep aids, breath fresheners, some vitamins and mouthwashes can cause an elevated BAC reading? It’s definitely possible.
If you are charged with DUI and were not drinking, the person representing you will explore every pertinent fact that could exonerate you. This is especially true if you ate particular foods or used products before undergoing the Breathalyzer test that might have raised your BAC.
