I've been thinking about the aspartame scare that's been making it's paranoid circles in my household lately, and after doing my own digging, I've decided that people will believe anything if it's scary enough while still being just barely plausible. And thus this idea was born. If anything I'm about to suggest is illegal for any reason (those crazy laws!) please let me know before I make an ass of myself.
Simply enough, I'm going to find an ingredient that's on almost every ingredient label, while still named something that wouldn't make sense to the average layman (Maltodextrin, guar gum, etc.) and then start a fake health scare about it, with little to no proof, using chain e-mail. My theory is that those gullible enough will believe any message using this formula:
- The FDA is a greedy organization run by the Lizard People and CIA spooks that is in no way interested in your safety nor paid to watch out for said safety
- Independent studies (no actual study required; add on the name of a fake doctor for added plausibility) have shown that this ingredient will kill you if you eat a certain amount of it (never list a specific amount or dosage)
- The worst part? You could be eating it RIGHT NOW!
- Also, it was used in this dangerous product (rat poison's always a favorite). Do you want to be eating RAT POISON!?
- Please think of the children!!!
I don't really have any goal for this prank, other than to see somebody take it seriously, because it would amuse me to feed somebody utter cock-and-bull and get away with it. What would really be great though, is if it were to appear on a major news outlet. If it were to appear on TV, I will go on TV, point back to this very webpage, and let the world know that they've been pranked.
I still have a few holes in this plan, namely that I haven't actually picked out a "poison" yet. Does anybody have any ideas? The more things it's in, the better, but it has to be something that would show up on an ingredient label.
Simply enough, I'm going to find an ingredient that's on almost every ingredient label, while still named something that wouldn't make sense to the average layman (Maltodextrin, guar gum, etc.) and then start a fake health scare about it, with little to no proof, using chain e-mail. My theory is that those gullible enough will believe any message using this formula:
- The FDA is a greedy organization run by the Lizard People and CIA spooks that is in no way interested in your safety nor paid to watch out for said safety
- Independent studies (no actual study required; add on the name of a fake doctor for added plausibility) have shown that this ingredient will kill you if you eat a certain amount of it (never list a specific amount or dosage)
- The worst part? You could be eating it RIGHT NOW!
- Also, it was used in this dangerous product (rat poison's always a favorite). Do you want to be eating RAT POISON!?
- Please think of the children!!!
I don't really have any goal for this prank, other than to see somebody take it seriously, because it would amuse me to feed somebody utter cock-and-bull and get away with it. What would really be great though, is if it were to appear on a major news outlet. If it were to appear on TV, I will go on TV, point back to this very webpage, and let the world know that they've been pranked.

I still have a few holes in this plan, namely that I haven't actually picked out a "poison" yet. Does anybody have any ideas? The more things it's in, the better, but it has to be something that would show up on an ingredient label.