(Washington, DC) - In the wake of a man being sentenced today to life in prison without parole for poisoning his wife with antifreeze, U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) today renewed his call for Congress to pass his legislation that would combat such “Death by Antifreeze” crimes in which individuals were murdered when their food and drinks were spiked with antifreeze.

In the above case, Mark Jensen of Wisconsin was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing his wife, Julie Jensen. Prosecutors argued that he laced her drink with antifreeze. Ackerman’s bill would require antifreeze to contain a bittering agent in order to make the substance unpalatable. The addition of a bittering substance to antifreeze would ensure that a toxic dose of the chemical could never be accidently or unknowingly be ingested due to the extremely bitter taste the antifreeze would have.

“Adding a bittering agent to antifreeze would avoid future tragedies such as the Jensen case and other instances across the nation in which defendants are accused of killing their spouses by spiking their drink with antifreeze” said Ackerman. “No family should have to lose a loved one to antifreeze poisoning when we have a simple solution staring us in the face.”

The legislation, entitled the Antifreeze Bittering Act, would require denatonium benzoate—the world’s most bitter substance—to be added to antifreeze sold in quantities of 55 gallons or less. The process would cost no more than three cents per gallon.  

Ackerman’s measure would also prevent 1,400 children and 10,000 to 90,000 household pets from accidentally and unknowingly ingesting antifreeze each year. Children playing outdoors come into contact with puddles of antifreeze in driveways, parking lots and along curbs then place their hands or toys in their mouths, and animals are too eager to lap up these sweet-tasting puddles. Curious children also find the bright colored, sweet tasting substance in garages and mistake it for juice-drinks and other safe beverages, while dogs have been known to chew the necks of antifreeze containers

To illustrate the problem of accidentally and unknowingly ingesting antifreeze, Ackerman, at a House hearing before an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee regarding the Antifreeze bill, placed six cups with identical looking liquids on the witness table while he testified. One of the cups contained antifreeze while the other five were filled with fruit juices and soft drinks. Ackerman challenged each member of the committee to pick up a safe cup to drink. None took him up on his offer.

The Antifreeze legislation is endorsed by the antifreeze industry including the Consumer Specialty Products Association (which represents the antifreeze business) and Honeywell, the leading manufacturer of antifreeze.

The measure is also supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Doris Day Animal League, the Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Pfizer Animal Health, the Society for Animal Protective Legislation, the Pet Food Institute, Citizens Campaign for the Environment and the Long Island Pine Barrens Society.

In addition, Oregon, California and New Mexico have already adopted their own laws requiring the addition of a bittering substance to antifreeze, and twelve other states—Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington—have legislation pending. Further, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution urging Congress to “help cities protect children and animals” by passing the Antifreeze Bittering Act.

Ackerman’s antifreeze legislation was passed during the last session of Congress (in July 2006) by the House Energy and Commerce Committee as well as the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the respective panels with jurisdiction over the bill. However, it was never brought-up for a vote on the floor of either chamber. Ackerman reintroduced the measure last month.

Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, a deadly toxin. Antifreeze is a product that is used to prevent freezing as well as overheating in motor vehicles. Spills occur when vehicles leak the substance, overheat or when the chemical is changed or replaced. 

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