Home » Tested Positive for Alcohol After Eating a Madeleine: The Unbelievable Story of a Shocked Man from Landes

Tested Positive for Alcohol After Eating a Madeleine: The Unbelievable Story of a Shocked Man from Landes

by KingofGeek
Tested Positive for Alcohol - Madeleine

In Mont-de-Marsan, a young employee tested positive for alcohol—despite never drinking in his life. A simple madeleine may have been enough to skew the result. A bizarre story that also highlights the limitations of alcohol testing.

Mont-de-Marsan (Landes): On paper, it sounds amusing. But for Jean (name changed), 23, a worker in a logistics company in Mont-de-Marsan, the incident could have taken a much more serious turn. In the early hours of July 23, just before starting his shift, he was subjected—like his colleagues—to a routine breathalyzer test. Minutes earlier, he had eaten a single madeleine. The result: positive.

“I’ve never had a drop of alcohol in my life,” he told Sud Ouest, still stunned.

A Positive Test… From a Madeleine

Around 4 a.m., Jean arrives at work. To pass the time before the test, he eats one of the two madeleines he brought with him—standard cakes from the industrial brand Arenas, widely sold in supermarkets.

When handed the breathalyzer, he blows once. The device turns red. Everyone is surprised. A second test a few minutes later confirms the result. Complete confusion. Jean is known for never drinking alcohol. Even his supervisor, present during the scene, is shocked. Faced with the anomaly, Jean asks to retake the test a bit later.

He drinks water, brushes his teeth, and rinses his mouth. Fifteen minutes pass. This time, the result is negative.

Police Recreate the Test… and Also Test Positive

Convinced the madeleine caused the false positive, Jean goes to the police station to explain. Initially skeptical, two officers agree to test the theory. They eat the same type of cake, blow into the breathalyzer—and both test temporarily positive.

The Sud Ouest newsroom, informed of the event, decides to investigate as well. The journalists get the same result. No doubt: the madeleine—or something in it—disturbs the accuracy of the test.

The Brand Responds, Cakes Sent for Analysis

Contacted by the press, Spanish company Arenas, which makes the madeleines, says it doesn’t understand the situation. It claims its products contain no alcohol. As a precaution, the relevant batches have been sent to a lab for analysis.

Until results come back, the mystery remains: how could a supposedly harmless food cause a false positive on a breathalyzer?

A Well-Known Weakness Among Experts

For alcohol testing experts, this case is not entirely new. The phenomenon can be explained by residues in the mouth that skew results. Certain foods—such as candies, syrups, or pastries with ethanol-based flavorings—can cause a temporary alcohol spike detectable by the device.

“Sometimes just a few milliliters of residual ethanol can cause a positive test if someone blows right after consuming it,” a Paris forensic doctor told Le Figaro. “It’s not alcohol in the bloodstream—it’s the alcohol still in the mouth that triggers the sensor.”

Madeleines Arenas
Madeleines Arenas

A Protocol Often Ignored

Current guidelines require waiting 15 to 30 minutes between eating or drinking and taking a breathalyzer test. This ensures an accurate measurement of actual blood alcohol content, rather than one skewed by mouth residue.

But in practice, this wait is often ignored—especially during routine checks or in private companies. Jean’s case highlights the limits of purely technical use without considering biological realities.

What If This Happened While Driving?

If this incident had occurred while driving rather than at work, Jean could have faced prosecution for driving under the influence. A false positive from a breathalyzer can result in immediate license suspension, a €135 fine, six points off the license, and even criminal penalties for repeat offenses.

Fortunately, in most cases, a chemical breathalyzer or blood test is used to confirm or refute the initial result. Legal experts recommend always requesting such follow-up testing if there’s any doubt.


Key Takeaways

Jean, a young man from Landes, tested positive for alcohol after eating an Arenas madeleine.
The anomaly was confirmed by two police officers and several journalists.
The brand denies any alcohol content, and the cakes are being analyzed.
The issue is due to residual alcohol in the mouth, which can cause false positives.
In roadside tests, a follow-up breath or blood test can be requested.


If You’re Tested

  • Don’t eat or drink in the 15 minutes before a test.
  • Drinking water and rinsing your mouth beforehand can help prevent errors.
  • Ask for a chemical breathalyzer or blood test if the result seems off.
  • If charged, consult a specialized lawyer to challenge an unfair sanction.

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