One of the most enticing aspects of AMC's "Breaking Bad" is its practicality. Sure, the series begins to flirt with absurdity in its later seasons, but the initial plot is so realistic that it's hard to believe chemistry teachers across the country aren't involved with the meth trade. Maybe that's a bit extreme, but think about the opportunity. Generally, a chemistry teacher's salary is nothing to brag about, so why not cook a little meth on the side? The money is good and the product is likely to be better than whatever else is floating around. The idea isn't too farfetched. In fact, several "Breaking Bad" inspired imitators have already giving it a shot.
According to a Taiwanese legislator, a retired high school chemistry teacher taught various food factories how to make maleic acid, an illegal food additive that makes processed food crispier. Although it may make the food taste a bit fresher, the banned chemical is known to cause kidney damage.
Taiwan issued a recall on Sunday of the Sunright brand of tapioca balls, which are used in the popular bubble tea, after trace amounts of maleic acid were found, reports Quartz. Maleic acid is commonly used in glue, paper, artificial resins and antihistamines, the perfect chemical to ingest into our fragile bodies!
The retired chemistry teachers didn't put his well-being on the line for nothing. The Want China Times reports that he received somewhere from $16,700 to $33,500 from factories throughout Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand. But he's not to only teacher to follow in Walt's footsteps.
Back in September 2012, a Texas chemistry teacher was caught selling home-made meth at his own junior high school. William Duncan, 43, unknowingly sold the narcotic to undercover officers in the parking lot. Although officials do not believe he ever sold crystal to any of his students, they claim he had been using the school's campus to sell his product, according to the Daily Mail.
While these incidents are entertainingly reminiscent of a "Breaking Bad" episode, let's hope no one goes on a ruthless killing spree to secure their drug empire.
"Breaking Bad" returns to AMC on Sunday, August 11.
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