The ultimate sugar idiocy?

[robert@fm]

Because I have been suffering for the past two days from a bad stomach upset, and I suspect that this was caused by my re-use of a 250ml Tesco Diet Cola bottle[*] which had previously been filled with 7-Up Cherry, which was then drank and the bottle left empty for several weeks/months; I have thus been searching Amazon for steriliser so as to avoid a re-occurrence.

Naturally, this has led to my having to plough through pages of listings as I specifically want sterilising agent (basically food-grade bleach) and not sterilising devices. Since such agent is used in home brewing as well as in baby care (the claim sometimes found in the more desperate tabloids that home brewing is "unhygienic" is the exact opposite of the truth), the search turned up this. 🙄 I mean to say, why on earth does making beer require "online brewing sugar"? And how exactly does it differ from ordinary sugar, other than in the exorbitant price? Back in the day, I made several gallons of beer using ordinary household sugar, and there wasn't even any such thing as "online" back then. 🙄

[*](I bought that batch of 12 bottles with the specific intention that, after drinking the original contents, I would refill them with full-sugar Pepsi or 7-up, so as to have a measured dose in the event of a hypo.)

 

[Ljc]

Why not use a sterilising solution used for babies bottles , Most supermarkets sell Milton or probably do their own brand that's cheaper but should be as good, look in the aisle where they sell feeding bottles, teats etc. .
I hope you're feeling much better soon.

 

[Vicsetter]

Why don't you get a steel bottle (from Amazon) which you can sterilize with boiling water or even in a dishwasher (if you have one).
I am pretty sure you shouldn't be re-using plastic soda bottles, who knows what chemicals you will be ingesting.

 

[PhoebeC]

You shouldn't reuse any plastic bottle. Some plastics start to break down after 6 months, some are two years. However you don't know long that bottle has had the liquid in when you buy it.

You should get a sports/travel bottle or the steel one Vicsetter suggested. I have a metal type one for walking its good.

 

[grovesy]

You shouldn't reuse any plastic bottle. Some plastics start to break down after 6 months, some are two years. However you don't know long that bottle has had the liquid in when you buy it.

You should get a sports/travel bottle or the steel one Vicsetter suggested. I have a metal type one for walking its good.

Some sports bottles are plastic.

 

[Lilian]

Talking of bottles. If you have a certain size bottle you know is the right amount of say Lucozade for a hypo but cannot take it through security at the airport, and the bottles you buy on the other side are too big, take an empty bottle through (that is allowed) and when you get to the other side buy the bigger bottle and transfer some to the other bottle so you will have one the right size. If that is used it can be refilled again from the larger bottle, as it is really only used as a measuring device.

 

[trophywench]

... and Milton cannot be used on some types of plastic ......

There's something we use for 'sterilising' the fresh water tank in our Moho occasionally which is safe on the thick plastic used for tanks and the metal fixtures therein/thereon. However I'm pretty certain it and the pipes leading to/from it aren't made of the same type of plastic as 'ordinary' pop bottles.

It could be the chemicals emitted by the plastic itself that upset you tum Robert, rather than bacteria.

 

[trophywench]

PS - we noticed Preserving sugar and Jam sugar on sale in Tescos the other day too. When I was very little - you could get 'preserving' sugar - ISTR it wasn't quite as refined and was coarser grained than 'table' sugar - much like the old blocks of cooking salt as opposed to table salt, you used to get. It was CHEAPER than 'white' stuff - but I reckon it had disappeared by 1960 ish since my mom - and pete's - just used the normal granulated white stuff thereafter.

How odd that these types are now DEARER than table sugar! Must think we're idiots.

 

[Vicsetter]

preserving or jam sugar contains pectin as well as sugar so that would be why it is more expensive. don't put it in your tea.

 

[Robin]

preserving or jam sugar contains pectin as well as sugar so that would be why it is more expensive. don't put it in your tea.

That's what I thought, til I googled it just now. Now, preserving sugar doesn't contain pectin, apparently, just larger crystals. Their jam sugar does, (and they do a specific Pectin Sugar sachet if you need help with your set.)
https://www.tasteandsmile.com/product/preserving-sugar

 

[Vicsetter]

Jam sugar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelling_sugar
I take your point about preserving sugar, but it does sound like a marketing ploy, to increase the price. I use granulated to make marmalade and wouldn't pay for a different kind of sugar because it reduces the need to stir as much!

 

[Chris Hobson]

The stuff that I used to use for sterilising when I used to brew beer is called Bruclens, you can get it from Wilko. It is also very good for cleaning teapots. I don't know what is so special about brewing sugar but I sometimes used to use powdered malt in place of some of the sugar to add more flavour. On the subject of drink bottles, I use the ones that come with cycle bottle cages, I never sterilise them, I just throw them in with the washing up after use.

 

[robert@fm]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AsbestosFreeCereal 😉

Maybe the "brewing sugar" and "jam sugar" (non-pectin-containing type) should be added to that page? 🙂