How Much Caffeine is Really in That Soda? 332
The Fun Guy writes "The Institute of Food Technologists summarizes some recent research on food. All things considering, it should settle some arguments among geeks about the caffination of beverages. 'Caffeine is a well-known stimulant added as an ingredient to various carbonated soft drinks, but which drink contains the most, and how can consumers know? A study in the Journal of Food Science used high-performance liquid chromatography to analyze the caffeine contents of 56 national-brand and 75 private-label store brand carbonated beverages. Caffeine contents ranged from 4.9 mg/12 oz (IGA Cola) to 74 mg/12 oz (Vault Zero). Some of the more common national-brand carbonated beverages analyzed in this study were Coca-Cola (33.9 mg/12 oz), Diet Coke (46.3 mg/12 oz), Pepsi (38.9 mg/12 oz), Diet Pepsi (36.7 mg/12 oz), Dr Pepper (42.6 mg/12 oz), Diet Dr Pepper (44.1 mg/12 oz), Mountain Dew (54.8 mg/12 oz), and Diet Mountain Dew (55.2 mg/12 oz). The authors found that store-brand beverages generally contained less caffeine, and they also suggest that consumers would benefit from having the actual caffeine content labeled on the beverage.'"
Jolt? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Jolt? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Jolt? (Score:5, Informative)
- 38.9 for Pepsi, database says 38.
- 33.9 for Coke, db says 34.
- 42.6 for Dr Pepper, db says 41.
- 46.3 for Diet Coke, db says 45.
- 55.2 for Diet Mountain Dew, db says 55.
So it looks pretty accurate at least, from a quick glance.
To give some perspective as you're looking at drinks with 40 or 50 mg per 12 oz bottle, note that a regular cup of coffee can have around 60-120 mg per cup, and a Red Bull seem to have around 80 mg per can.
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Pepsi: Death after 359 cans
Coke: 401.47 cans
Dr. Pepper: 332.93 cans
Jolt: 62.05 cans
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Re:Jolt? (Score:5, Funny)
Starbucks Grande Caffe Latte: 7.25
Starbucks Tall Caffe Latte: 4.83
They come from the same source coffeepot, yet they have different concentrations. Go figure.
IANASEBIDO (I am not a starbucks employee, but I dated one)
Re:Jolt? (Score:5, Informative)
4.83 * 2 / (16/12) = 7.25.
Re:Jolt? (Score:5, Funny)
20mg/100ml (Score:2, Informative)
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There's a bit of a story behind the limit in Sweden, because Swedish drinks use to have a limit of max 100 mg caffeine / liter. Åbro, the Swedish producer, has howerver gained permission of using up to 150 mg/l. A US Jolt bottle seem to have 140 mg caffeine, and one in Sweden around 78 mg / 33 cl bottle (or 23 mg/100 ml, about what you say).
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There is a shop just off of scottsdale rd and mcdowell that still sells Jolt (as well as a WHOLE bunch of other really cool drinks).
Its called "Pop The Soda Shop"....its really cool
Re:Jolt? (Score:5, Funny)
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After Crystal Pepsi went out of production, I bought the last 6-pack on the supermarket shelves... (I wasn't much of a fan, but it wasn't bad)
I can assure you, 6 months after the expiration date, Crystal Pepsi tastes like dirt in water... Not a slight hint of dirt, mind you, but a slight hint of only Crystal Pepsi in your can of dirt-water...
Re:Jolt? (Score:5, Funny)
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Ironically it is a vending machine in the IT block of my uni.
The only answer that matters... (Score:5, Funny)
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Diet Mountain Dew ??!?! (Score:3, Funny)
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What? (Score:2)
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Sounds like... (Score:2, Informative)
It's too bad they "Tuned Up the Taste" (Score:2)
Re:Sounds like... (Score:4, Informative)
I used to drink up to a case of Coke (in cans) daily during college and once I was done with organized athletics I decided to switch to diet to keep the calories down. I hated the way diet colas tasted so I went with the new diet drink at the time, Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper (aka, to my circle of friends, as Liquid Crack).
After several months of drinking it, I as up to at least 4 or 5 20oz bottles and 12+ 12oz cans daily. I wasn't having any sugar guilt so I didn't think anything of the caffeine's effect on my system.
After numerous sleepless nights in terror because of a pounding chest, I went cold turkey. That 7 day migraine sucked more than anything ever before.
Now, over 1.5 years later, I'm much better off. I am convinced that the high caffeine levels of diet soda is to compensate for the lack of sugar and to force addiction over the flavor.
My BP dropped to near normal levels (I was on 150MG+ of two different BP meds prior to the caffeine habit kick) which is likely a combination of the drop in caffeine as well as elevated sodium levels in diet soda and I feel a ton better overall.
Drop the caffeine habit, you'll love yourself for it both health and money wise.
Re:Sounds like... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Sounds like... Great Blood Pressure! (Score:2)
Thanks for the health encouragement. Interesting, more information please on your blood pressure reduction. I consume eight cans of Dr Pepper a day plus blood pressure meds (160mg Diovan/day). I imagine a number of other
For your blood pressure to go down did you change anything else in your diet, or environment, or exercise? For example, eliminate french fries? For example move to a six story walk up?
Then please quantify your blood pressure drop. What was your blood
Re:Sounds like... Great Blood Pressure! (Score:4, Informative)
Now I'm on 20mg of Lisinopril (to bring it further under control than it is) and I'm currently at 110 to 125 over 75 to 80. With my family history this is what the Dr recommends. I'm fine with keeping it under control in this manner.
For a while I was down to 10mg of Lisinopril but after changing Dr's, they moved me to 20mg to keep it a bit lower than what they consider "good" for good measure.
As far as exercise/diet goes, no, I didn't change anything other than the soda. My family history predisposes me to this and even when I was in 100% athletic shape my BP was 180/100 regularly. They attributed it to the distance events I trained for and became concerned only after I stopped. After ending the soda kicks, I didn't need the meds anymore and I began training again (after a 5 year hiatus) and found that my pressure INCREASED. This completely baffled the Dr but such is my life.
Good luck yourself.
a hypocrite (Score:3, Insightful)
Gosh, because there's no way alcohol could be more harmful than caffeine, especially when drinking to the point of getting "too drunk."
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A week? You got off easy. When I quit cold turkey a few years ago after drinking 8-12 caffeinated Diet Pepsis a day, I felt like total shit for a month. Headache, body aches, lethargy, exhaustion... It was awful.
But you're absolutely right, once the caffeine was out of my system, I felt great. I could fall asleep at night, I could sleep through the night, waking up in the morning was no problem, I had more energy, and if I ran o
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Drop the caffeine habit, you'll love yourself for it both health and money wise.
If you're worried about your health, why on earth would you be getting drunk. Switching from caffeined softdrink to water might be healthy but switching to beer not so much!
$39?! (Score:5, Insightful)
What's the point of posting a link to an online article in a ridiculously expensive journal?
Charging means reliable (Score:4, Funny)
Re:$39?! (Score:5, Funny)
How much caffiene is in a... (Score:4, Funny)
I have to repeat that order everytime I order at Starbucks, because it doesn't click the first time they hear it.
Re:How much caffiene is in a... (Score:5, Funny)
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I work nights, you insensitive clod!
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I'd be a bit careful. Depending on the speed with which you drink your coffee, you might be getting close to the toxicity level of caffeine. Unfortunately, there is very little information on what that is and how it relates to clinical effects. I found this paper interesting, though.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/174_10_210501/ cannon/cannon.html [mja.com.au]
I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on Slashdot.
1g! (Score:2)
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Caffeine's LD50 is 192mg per kg, so you'd need about 15g, or more than 200 shots, to have a reasonable chance of topping yourself with espresso. The metabolic half-life of caffeine is about 5 hours, so you'd need to be doing the shots fairly quickly too.
At least one person has survived ingesting 24g, so while you can kill youself, you'd be more likely to knock yourself unconscious bouncing off the wall
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Unless of course your 80kg male has peptic ulcer disease or a cardiac dysrythmia, in which case he will need FAR less than that in order to be on his merry way.
Re:How much caffiene is in a... (Score:5, Interesting)
In large amounts, and especially over extended periods of time, caffeine can lead to a condition known as "caffeinism." Caffeinism usually combines "caffeine dependency" with a wide range of unpleasant physical and mental conditions including nervousness, irritability, anxiety, tremulousness, muscle twitching (hyperreflexia), insomnia, headaches, respiratory alkalosis[51] and heart palpitations.[52] Furthermore, because caffeine increases the production of stomach acid, high usage over time can lead to peptic ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.[53] However, since both "regular" and decaffeinated coffees have been shown to stimulate the gastric mucosa and increase stomach acid secretion, caffeine is probably not the sole component of coffee responsible.[54]
There are four caffeine-induced psychiatric disorders recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition: caffeine intoxication, caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, caffeine-induced sleep disorder, and caffeine-related disorder not otherwise specified (NOS).
Other side effects of caffeine overuse include: dizziness, tachycardia, blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushed dry skin, diuresis, loss of appetite, nausea and stomachaches.[55] -- From Caffeine Article [wikipedia.org] at Wikipedia..
Yeah, I drank a lot for many years but it's always good to detox once in a while. Since Caffeine has a half-life in your system you can never really get rid of all of it so your base levels go up over time, especially if you have 400+mg a day. Drink tea and take a real asprin on the first day of a 3 day detox and you'll thank yourself.
Oh, and if you're looking to prolong the half-life of coffee, you need a CYP450 [wikipedia.org] inhibitor--such as Bergamottin [wikipedia.org] or Naringin [wikipedia.org], both of which are found in fresh grapefruit juice, peel and seeds.. It's under debate which one actually affects the CYP450, but it works--trust me. So, do yourself a favor and instead of taking 600mg of caffine, take 200mg with a grapefruit juice and enjoy the better effects.
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Enough to down a full grown elephant.
Re:How much caffiene is in a... (Score:5, Funny)
A feqww half dozeen drop2ws in the eyyeys, I'm reararanging furniture! straingt to the bRAIN, STRAIT TO THE BRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!
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Oh, and I have had Vietnamese coffee before... I get it whenever I order pho.
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I also love tying up the bar and seeing the long lines.
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Espresso seems to have a lot higher caffeine density than normal coffee... at least twice.
http://coffeetea.about.com/library/blcaffeine.htm [about.com]
Double Espresso (2 oz): 45-100mg (22 to 50mg per ounce)
Brewed coffee (8 oz): 60-120 mg (7.5 to 15mg per ounce)
http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database/ [energyfiend.com]
Coffee (Brewed) 13.44 mg/oz
Coffee (Decaf, Brewed) 0.70 mg/oz
Coffee (Decaf, Instant) 0.31 mg/oz
Coffee (Drip) 18.13 mg/oz
Coffee (Espresso) 51.33
Paid access? (Score:2, Insightful)
You can purchase immediate access to this article for 30 days through our secure web site for USD$ 39.00 using a credit card.
You're kidding right?
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And they wonder why the average man knows so little about science. Perhaps scientists should subscribe to some economic journals.
Coffee still rules... (Score:5, Informative)
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some drinks already list the caffeine content. (Score:2)
I'm not sure how that compares to what the study says though, because I can't read it because I don't have a subscription to their journal.
How you know you had too much coke (Score:2)
The feeling can be described as feeling little bubbles grow in your brain and blow up, your eyes kinda wanna get as far away as possible from the bubbles.
There are also bubbles in your throat, and sometimes your feet.
Wait.. there must've been something else in that Coke
Full Article Text (Score:5, Informative)
ABSTRACT: Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that is added as an ingredient to various carbonated soft drinks. Due to its stimulatory and other physiological effects, individuals desire to know the exact amount of caffeine consumed from these beverages. This study analyzed the caffeine contents of 56 national-brand and 75 private-label store-brand carbonated beverages using high-performance liquid chromatography. Caffeine contents ranged from 4.9 mg/12 oz (IGA Cola) to 74 mg/12 oz (Vault Zero). Some of the more common national-brand carbonated beverages analyzed in this study with their caffeine contents were Coca-Cola (33.9 mg/12 oz), Diet Coke (46.3 mg/12 oz), Pepsi (38.9 mg/12 oz), Diet Pepsi (36.7 mg/12 oz), Dr Pepper (42.6 mg/12 oz), Diet Dr Pepper (44.1 mg/12 oz), Mountain Dew (54.8 mg/12 oz), and Diet Mountain Dew (55.2 mg/12 oz). The Wal-Mart store-brand beverages with their caffeine contents were Sam's Cola (12.7 mg/12 oz), Sam's Diet Cola (13.3 mg/12 oz), Dr Thunder (30.6 mg/12 oz), Diet Dr Thunder (29.9 mg/12 oz), and Mountain Lightning (46.5 mg/12 oz). Beverages from 14 other stores were also analyzed. Most store-brand carbonated beverages were found to contain less caffeine than their national-brand counterparts. The wide range of caffeine contents in carbonated beverages indicates that consumers would benefit from the placement of caffeine values on food labels.
Introduction
Caffeine, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, is an odorless, slightly bitter substance found in numerous plant species (Tarka and Hurst 1998). Extracts derived from these plants, such as coffee and tea beverages, naturally contain caffeine and other methylxanthines. Caffeine is intentionally added as an ingredient to many carbonated soft drinks, including colas, pepper-type beverages, and citrus beverages. Although soda manufacturers may explain that caffeine contributes to the flavor of soft drinks, only 8% of adults were able to differentiate between caffeinated and caffeine-free colas at the concentration of caffeine contained in most cola beverages (Griffiths and Vernotica 2000). These beverages appeal to many consumers because of the stimulatory effect caffeine provides.
Caffeine has drawn more attention in the past decades due to its widespread consumption and physiological effects beyond that of its stimulatory effect (James 1991; Bernstein and others 2002; Mandel 2002). Caffeine is quickly absorbed by the body. The human salivary caffeine level, which indicates the extent of absorption, peaks around 40 min after caffeine consumption (Liguori and others 1997). Various physiological effects on the central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and renal systems have been reported (Nehlig and others 1992; Spiller 1998; Hartley and others 2004; Savoca and others 2005). For example, Hartley and others (2004) reported that caffeine causes a mild elevation in blood pressure. In addition, caffeine's diuretic effect is widely known (Spiller 1998).
Various governmental bodies have specified the maximum level of caffeine allowed in carbonated beverages. The U.S. Food and Drug Admin. limits the amount of caffeine in carbonated beverages to a maximum of 0.02% (FDA 2006). Therefore, the highest legal amount of caffeine allowed in a 355 mL (12 oz) can of soft drink is about 72 mg. Likewise, Canada limits caffeine to cola-type beverages at a level of 200 ppm or about 71 mg/12 oz (Dept. of Justice 2007). In Australia, the maximum caffeine level in cola-type beverages must not exceed 145 mg/kg or about 51 mg/12 oz while in New Zealand, the caffeine level is limited to 200 mg/kg or about 71 mg/12 oz (FSANZ 2000).
The amount of caffeine contained in various foods and beverages has been analyzed, including coffee (Bell and others 1996), tea (Hicks and others 1996; Friedman and others 2005; Pena and others 2005; Yao and others 2006), carbonated beverages (Bunker and McWilliams 1979; Strohl 1985; Grand and Bell 1997; Pena and others 2005), and chocolate products (Caudle and others 2001; Tokusoglu a
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Regional variations? (Score:4, Interesting)
Source of caffeine in Coke (Score:4, Informative)
The "Cola" in Coca-Cola stands for kola nut extract, which used to provide the bulk of caffeine. But after several reformulations of Coca-Cola, less actual kola is in the formula, and most of the caffeine is now pure caffeine. Caffeine is a base, and Coke has phosphoric acid to disguise the bitterness.
Personally, I like the taste of Coca-Cola Zero [wikipedia.org] a lot better than that of Diet Coke. I can tolerate Diet Coke only in a fountain mix that emulates C2 [wikipedia.org] (50% Coca-Cola, 50% Diet Coke). But will Coke follow the example of Diet Pepsi Max in introducing a new higher-caffeine formulation? And will it be called Crack-a-Cola?
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How much? Well, this is Slashdot, so: (Score:5, Funny)
It's a CONSPIRATORIALLY large/medium/small amount. They're out to get you.
It's a nasty CORPORATE amount. You should be randomly angry that your soda isn't made in some guy's garage by 11-year-old soda hackers.
It's an ANTI-CONSUMER amount. Consumers deserve more/less at a lower price (free if there was any justice, man).
It's an UNSCIENTIFIC amount. Those Christians wouldn't let stem cells evolve into the right amount -- we hate them.
It's an amount that VIOLATES YOUR RIGHTS. Online.
GEORGE BUSH hates your soda and makes the caffeine the wrong amount. Cheney hates the can.
The amount is most unfair to women and minorities and we could get it fixed if they'd stop outsourcing all the soda engineering jobs to Bangalore.
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Submit it as an Ask Slashdot question. (The answer is hire a lawyer.)
I'll take coffee, thankyouverymuch (Score:3, Interesting)
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How can something that smells so good taste so bad?
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Caffeine-free Coca-Cola (Score:3, Insightful)
I've been drinking Caffeine-free (NOT DIET!) Coca-Cola ice it came out on the market a few years ago, after consuming who-knows-how-much caffeine over the course of my lifetime previous to its release. It has all the sugar and calories of regular Coke, but zero caffeine, and tastes virtually the same (although perhaps a tiny bit sweeter, as it lacks the bitterness of the caffeine). I bring a case to the office every week or two for my own consumption. People always ask me about it, as it comes in a shiny, golden coloured can, as if it were Coke for the super-rich or something.
Unfortunately, it's brutally difficult to find. I went through a three-month stretch a year or so ago where I simply couldn't buy it at all. So now I keep a small stock-pile. I know of one store in the area that carries it (I used to know at least four, three of which have stopped carrying it), and they often get 3 or 4 cases every week or so. Recently, however, they suddenly had more than a dozen cases on their shelf, and I've been slowly buying it up.
Anyhow, if you're looking to get your body out of the caffeine-consumption cycle, but don't want to give up that sweet, sweet nectar, look around for it. It's good stuff. Maybe if I can convince more people to drink it, it will become possible to find it in more places and more sizes (I've only ever seen it in 12-can cases and 2 litre bottles, and never in a vending machine, and only very rarely in a convenience store as single cans).
Yaz.
Other references already exist though... (Score:2)
http://wilstar.com/caffeine.htm [wilstar.com]
and this:
http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2003news/caffeinecontent.h tm [ufl.edu]
Starbucks regular drip coffees contain an average of 200 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving; their decaffeinated drip coffees contain an average of 5 milligrams to 11 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving, according to the statement.
The study's second phase used 16-ounce cups of Starbucks' Breakfast Blend, a mix of Latin American coffees, purchased on six consecutive days from a single
And lest I forget more efficent delivery systems.. (Score:2)
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/caffederm.shtml [thinkgeek.com]
Heh. All in the interests of efficiency, of course.
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http://www.cariboucoffee.com/ourcoffee/coffeeqna.
How much caffeine is there in a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso?
12 oz. cup of coffee = 230 milligrams of caffeine [average]
1.5-2 oz. shot of espresso = 80-100 milligrams of caffeine
12 oz. cola drink = 30-60 milligrams of caffeine
Liquid caffeine delivery systems have disadvantage (Score:2)
They missed a few in their tests... (Score:2, Funny)
Caffine-Free Coca-Cola,
Caffine-Free Diet Coke,
Caffine-Free Dr. Pepper,
... etc ...
Bawls Wins (Score:2)
Reformatted and sorted for readability (Score:2)
55.2 mg/12 oz Diet Mountain Dew
54.8 mg/12 oz Mountain Dew
46.5 mg/12 oz Mountain Lightning
46.3 mg/12 oz Diet Coke
44.1 mg/12 oz Diet Dr Pepper
42.6 mg/12 oz Dr Pepper
38.9 mg/12 oz Pepsi
36.7 mg/12 oz Diet Pepsi
30.6 mg/12 oz Dr Thunder
29.9 mg/12 oz Diet Dr Thunder
13.3 mg/12 oz Sam's Diet Cola
12.7 mg/12 oz Sam's Cola
Ah yes, it's all clear now. Diet Mountain Dew is the one I'm looking for....
Labeling (Score:3, Interesting)
It's important to people who are 1) seeking to limit their daily caffeine or 2) trying to maximize their caffeine intake.
Either way, it pisses me off that I can't quantify the numbers without finding sources like this.
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I don't know about the full article, they won't let you read the article unless you pay money. In fact, the link is worthless as all the free content is duplicated in the summary.
Diet Coke is so different from regular Coke because they are very different products. The same reason that Coke and Diet Coke taste different and people prefer the taste of one or the other. Diet Coke was formulated to taste like New Coke (sweeter, etc.). Comparing Coke to Coke Zero is a more realistic comparision.
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Because furlong per fortnight (Score:3, Funny)
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As an aside, my favourite energy drink is Rockstar Juiced, in part because the can is labelled as containing "70% Juice"
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Your doctor does.
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You might have ten fingers, but both 12 and 16 have many more factors. One system plays nicer with decimal math, but the other is much more practical in the real world.
Re:Units (Score:4, Informative)
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ummm (Score:3, Funny)
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It's not a conversion. For certain items, usually chemicals, the US has adopted the metric system. (The others are usually utilitarian items.)
Please stop retarding the world with your garbage non-standard unit system.
The only reason the Metric system became standard was the lack of any other unified standard in Europe. Here in America, we just steamrolled over any competing system with our semi-British units, and there's no real reason to change it.
Anyone who uses the metric system will have to do a number-dance to get to a rational q
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Since around the 1890's, US units have been officially defined in terms of metric units.
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That's two conversions required to work with any system, be it American or SI.
Rather, it's one conversion to work in either system. And it's the imperial, not the American system.
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http://dublindrpepper.com/ [dublindrpepper.com]