White Powders Earn Bad Reputation

Leaders in the detergent, flour, chalk and baking soda industries banded together this week for a joint effort to restore the tainted reputation of white, powdery substances.

Across the country, thousands of people called police to report suspicious activity at the sight of different powders. Many have fear they may contain anthrax spores.

Those fears are ridiculous, said Joel Leyrnhausen, president and CEO of Leyrnhausen Powdered Soap Co. Leyrnhausen joined representatives from several industries to found CAPS, the Coalition for the Advancement of Powdery Substances. They're starting a nationwide advertising campaign. "Ever since this anthrax thing, people are scared of powder," he said. "This country was built on the backs of powdery substances."

Reports from across the country include classroom disruptions because powder was spotted on the chalkboard tray. In an Iowa restaurant, a couple called the police from a cell phone to report that they found a white powdery substance when they opened a small pink packet on their table.

"It's just getting out of hand," said Peter Wanacker with Willy's Wonderful Baking Soda. "Artificial sweeteners aren't even powdery for god sakes. They're f-cking crystalline."