Roadside breathalyzer blood alcohol content tests are far from accurate. In fact, these portable BAC tests aren’t used as evidence in court for a DUI trial. They are a way for a police officer to gather enough evidence to arrest you and take you to the station for more accurate tests. This is why they’re voluntary in 46 states. But they are required in Michigan, so the Manley and Manley law firm of Flint warns of five foods that can trigger a “false positive” on a DUI breathalyzer test.

Vinaigrette dressings

Vineger is essentially wine fermented until it loses almost all alcohol content. But both read and white wine vinegar can trigger a “false positive” BAC on a breathalyzer DUI test. You’d probably remember doing a shot of vinegar. But you might have forgotten you had a bunch of Italian or Greek dressing on your salad.

Energy drinks

Unless you’re pounding Four Loko, your energy drinks don’t advertise an alcohol content. But a recent study found most energy drinks contain small amounts of ethanol. As a result 40% of the study’s participants had false BAC results when doing a breathalyzer DUI test.

Herbal extracts

An old-school way of getting the essentials out of an herb such as a root is to chop it up and leave it soaking in alcohol for a long time. This is why the vanilla extract you buy in the grocery store is still 35% alcohol. And it’s not the only one. Many of the bottled herbal extracts you can buy have some alcohol. No, eating a regular vanilla ice cream won’t put you over the DUI limit. But if you’re going heavy on the extract in baked goods or other homemade goodies, you may see a higher score on a breathalyzer test than you’d expect.

Sugary foods

The Manley & Manley law firm warns any fermented foods or any foods that cause you to burp can bump up your supposed BAC and cause a “false positive.” One major category is sugary foods. Namely cinnamon rolls, honeybuns, protein bars, and some pastries. Also be aware of fruit and juice.

Certain breads and pastries

Another major category to be cautious of is baked goods. Namely breads, honey-glazed donuts, sandwiches, slices of pizza, and croissants.

Can eating the wrong foods land you a DUI?

Obviously, drivers who haven’t had a drop to drink aren’t blowing 0.08% BAC and getting a DUI just because they had a slice of pizza. But the above foods can increase the BAC registered in a less-accurate breathalyzer test. So if you pair them with drinking less than the legal limit, you could find yourself in false-positive DUI territory.