A B737 FO RPTS HEARING A FLT ATTENDANT FROM ANOTHER ACR RELATE AN INCIDENT IN WHICH A PAX USED A COMMERCIAL SELF-HEATING MEAL PACKET WHICH PRESENTS A SCALDING; CHEMICAL BURN; OR CORROSION HAZARD.

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I RECENTLY HEARD AN ACR Y FLT ATTENDANT RELATE AN INCIDENT THAT I THINK MAY BE OF INTEREST. WHILE AT CRUISE; SHE HEARD SEVERAL CALL BUTTONS CHIME ALMOST AT ONCE AND; WHEN SHE LOOKED UP SHE SAW FAIRLY THICK SMOKE COMING UP FROM A WINDOW SEAT ABOUT HALFWAY BACK IN THE CABIN. SHE GOT A HALON EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABOUT TO ATTACK THE FIRE WHEN THE PAX IN THE WINDOW SEAT CALLED OUT THAT HE WAS JUST HEATING UP HIS DINNER. THE PAX WAS USING A SELF HEATING MEAL PURCHASED FROM THE LA BRIUTE COMPANY. THIS IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT SELL THIS TYPE OF MEAL. THEY HAVE BEEN IN USE SINCE THE FIRST GULF WAR TO GIVE SOLDIERS IN THE FIELD A HOT MEAL WHEN A FIELD KITCHEN WAS UNAVAILABLE. HEAT IS GENERATED BY A MIXTURE OF MAGNESIUM AND IRON FILINGS; WHICH; WHEN COMBINED WITH SALT WATER; SETS OFF A SUPER CORROSIVE REACTION WHICH LASTS ABOUT 30 MINUTES; PRODUCING A TEMP OF 178 DEGS F AND GIVING OFF LARGE AMOUNTS OF STEAM AND A 'SMALL' (THEIR TERM) AMOUNT OF HYDROGEN GAS. ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS FORM OF HEAT GENERATION IS THAT IT DOES NOT RELY ON OXYGEN SO IT WORKS JUST AS WELL AT THE TOP OF MT EVEREST (OR IN AIRPLANE WITH AN 8000 FT CABIN) AS IT DOES AT SEA LEVEL. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY POSSIBLE WAY TO STOP THE REACTION ONCE IT STARTED. THERE WAS A WARNING THAT THE HEAT GENERATORS SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA. WHILE THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO TOXIC FUMES; THERE IS A 'SWEET' SMELLING ODOR THAT ACCOMPANIES THE REACTION. I THINK THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL HAZARDS TO CONSIDER. THE SMOKE (STEAM IN THIS CASE) WAS ALARMING ENOUGH THAT SEVERAL PAX AND THE CREW OF THIS AIRPLANE REACTED AS THEY WOULD WITH A FIRE. IF THE INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED ON THE GND; IT'S POSSIBLE THAT A GND EVACUATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY THE CREW AND/OR THE PAX. THERE IS A SCALDING/CHEMICAL BURN HAZARD; AND; IF THE HEATING MIXTURE IS SPILLED WHILE THE REACTION IS ONGOING; A POSSIBLE CORROSION HAZARD FOR THE AIRPLANE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT OUR FLT ATTENDANTS AND PLTS; TOO; BE MADE AWARE THAT THESE SELF HEATING MEALS MIGHT TURN UP ON OUR ACFT AND BE USED BY A PAX. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO TEST AND THEN INFORM OUR CREWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE HEAT GENERATOR IS SPRAYED WITH WATER AND/OR HALON EXTINGUISHERS. MAYBE IT JUST SPILLS AND SPREADS THE CHEMICALS; BUT I DON'T KNOW. IF THERE IS A SPILL; WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT? ANYTHING SPECIAL WE MIGHT NEED TO ADD TO OUR PROCS? THE PEOPLE IN DANGEROUS GOODS MIGHT WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT SHIPPING THESE MEALS IN BULK OR MAYBE GIVE CONSIDERATION TO A POSSIBLE UPDATE TO THE MANUAL WE CARRY. IF WE WOULD RATHER NOT SEE THESE MEALS GET ON THE AIRPLANES TO BEGIN WITH; THEN IT WOULD BE BEST TO CATCH THEM AT SECURITY. THE TSA MAY WANT TO SEE WHAT ONE OF THESE MEALS; OR AT LEAST THE HEAT GENERATOR PACKET; LOOKS LIKE ON THEIR X-RAY MONITORS SO THEY CAN CHK OUT THE BAG.