So much fraud in BBQ

[okie sawbones]

Nothing is sacred anymore. The University of Missouri tested 15 lump charcoal brands, and found discrepancies in ALL 15 brands as to origin, species of the enclosed wood, and weight of the package. One brand listed as oak had no oak at all. Several bags that said made in USA contained tropical woods that do not grow here. Several 20 lb. bags weighed 17 lbs. In a separate study they found metal shards, sand, plastic, glass splinters, and industrial coke contaminants. The standard is less than 1% contaminants, but one bag had 26.6% contaminants.

Only two brands were recommended, Jealous Devil and Rockwood. I have been using Rockwood for years, since reading about in on Naked Whiz Lump Charcoal Database. Buyer beware. It might pay you to check the database before you buy.

 

[normanaj]

Do you have a link to the study?

 

[voyager 663rd]

Do you have a link to the study?

Interesting.
UT
Not a word on the university site
www.extension.missouri.edu/search?s=charcoal

BUT the forestry site lists it
research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/69603

strange. Can't include the link so here's a pic

A link is on that page to the pdf which is 178 pages.

 

[radioguy]

I just bought a bag of Jealous Devil briquettes. Haven't burned any but was going to review. Kingsford is Garbage nowadays.

RG

 

[mneeley490]

I had a bag of lump charcoal a few years ago, can't remember what the brand was, and inside I found pieces of what obviously had been wall/floor trim.

 

[chopsaw]

Several bags that said made in USA contained tropical woods that do not grow here.

Made here , but using drops and off fall from shops and mills that use exotics to make mill work , furniture and flooring . All mixed together with the domestic drops and off fall .

 

[jcam222]

Nothing is sacred anymore. The University of Missouri tested 15 lump charcoal brands, and found discrepancies in ALL 15 brands as to origin, species of the enclosed wood, and weight of the package. One brand listed as oak had no oak at all. Several bags that said made in USA contained tropical woods that do not grow here. Several 20 lb. bags weighed 17 lbs. In a separate study they found metal shards, sand, plastic, glass splinters, and industrial coke contaminants. The standard is less than 1% contaminants, but one bag had 26.6% contaminants.

Only two brands were recommended, Jealous Devil and Rockwood. I have been using Rockwood for years, since reading about in on Naked Whiz Lump Charcoal Database. Buyer beware. It might pay you to check the database before you buy.

Did they check B&B?

 

[mneeley490]

They don't appear to name names.

 

[Smoke-Chem BBQ]

Disappointing news.
But I wouldn't call it fraud in BBQ, I'd call it fraud in charcoal manufacture.

 

[912smoker]

And it's not regulated by the FDA or anyone else.

Keith

 

[Fueling Around]

FTC would be the closest to regulation, but face it they are more more focused on petty things the lawyers jump on.
I gave up on several lump brands as pure garbage. Pretty much stick to Cowboy and Frontier for consistency.

 

[Elf@shore]

FTC would be the closest to regulation, but face it they are more more focused on petty things the lawyers jump on.
I gave up on several lump brands as pure garbage. Pretty much stick to Cowboy and Frontier for consistency.

HUMM? I joked about the sawdust on the floors to be used?
Wood pellets?
Who know what we are using ?
Its all about Costs, nothing else !

 

[Chris_in_SoCal]

I only use Cowboy and have been more than satisfied with it but I do snicker when I later clean out below the grill and always seem to find small rocks among the ashes.

Where do they come from? I never see them when pouring the lump into the chimney starter. I add wood splits on the lump charcoal after it is ready but the rocks do not come from them.