TMP Reports
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 2:13 pm

A bottle of ketchup exploded all over diner James Brewer when he ate breakfast Saturday at a restaurant, Officer Anthony Brewer reported Monday.

Brewer and his wife, Bonnie, were eating at American Waffle on Memorial Boulevard when Brewer reached for the ketchup that exploded. Ketchup spread to his face, hands and clothes.

Employees cleaned up the mess, moved them to a different table and paid for their meal.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans said someone could have added a chemical agent to the ketchup and closed the bottle, causing the gas to build up and explode.

Tampering with food is considered a Class C felony, he said.

Diners have a right to go out and eat at a restaurant without having to fear someone tampered with the food, Evans said.

“People should have the confidence to know their food is safe,” Evans said.

Because of a lack of evidence, the case was not assigned to detectives.