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Airline Pulls Sweetener, Creamer After Scares

Northwest Yanks Sweetners, Powdered Coffee Creamer

EAGAN, Minn. -- Northwest Airlines has pulled sweeteners and powdered coffee creamer from all flights.

That follows two incidents this week in which Northwest flight crews were alerted to white, powdery substances on board.

A Northwest spokesman said that the carrier removed packets of Equal, Sweet 'N Low and powdered creamer to prevent delays and ease fears after recent anthrax scares.

On Monday, passengers were kept on a Northwest jet in Detroit for more than an hour after crews found a white powdery substance. The substance apparently was food crumbs.

Meanwhile, in Burlington, Vt., a substance was found on top of checked baggage that was being removed from a Northwest Airlink flight. Officials said it is unlikely that the substance found was anthrax.

Milk, sugar and salt will still be options aboard Northwest flights. That's because salt and sugar crystals are more easily identifiable.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001