# Jim Jones and the suicides: Why Flavor Aid and not Kool-Aid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348 "2010-11-30T00:50:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/1 "2010-11-30T00:50:06Z")
Yep, I know that sometimes “Kool-Aid” is used as a generic term for powdered drink mixes, but here’s the question: In any documentary programming on Jim Jones and the suicide/murders, one of the pieces of stock footage that’s always shown in Jones opening a chest of powdered drink mixes, clearly labeld both Kool-Aid and Flavor Aid. With that. . . How do we know that only Flavor Aid was used for mixing the poison? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/2 "2010-11-30T01:07:54Z")
I assumed that, since Kool-Aid is more likely to be a sponsor at least some show on the channel, the Flavor Aid was more likely to be mentioned. As, every time I’ve heard it in just conversation, they use Kool-Aid ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/3 "2010-11-30T01:14:30Z")
I’m personally not convinced we do. I remember a previous thread on this, but no one ever produced any contemporary pictures to support that it was flavor-aid. Do you have pictures you can link to, or to that footage? I think I’ve seen this “fact” posted on the Kool-aid web site, but they’re hardly unbiased. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/4 "2010-11-30T01:22:23Z")
At this late date, (25 years after the fact) is Kool-Aid really still worrried about guilt by association? It seems to me that anyone old enough to remember the event is old enough to realize that Kool Aid wasn’t actually a corporate sponsor of the People’s Temple, right? Is it just a matter of trying to not have ANY possible association with such a trainwreck? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/5 "2010-11-30T01:22:43Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Do you have pictures you can link to, or to that footage? Not currently, but these docs air with some regularity on the various “doc” channels (Nat Geo, Discovery, etc.). This footage is pretty much part and parcel of any doc relating to the Jonestown. > [@](#): > > I think I’ve seen this “fact” posted on the Kool-aid web site, but they’re hardly unbiased. It’s also repeated on this site any time the subject comes up. ETA: There are Jonestown docs on youtube. I’ll watch some and come back with a source. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/6 "2010-11-30T01:28:47Z")
I thought the beauty of Flavor-Aid (as a kid) was that it was a kool-aid type powder that you dipped that white stick into and licked off the crystals… 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/7 "2010-11-30T01:31:45Z")
Here’s [the thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=307736) I mentioned. Worth reading. **Cardinal** has some links in post 13 that discuss this. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/8 "2010-11-30T01:39:23Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > At this late date, (25 years after the fact) is Kool-Aid really still worrried about guilt by association? I really do think they should be worried about phrases like “[getting someone] to drink the Kool-Aid.” It creates negative affect. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/9 "2010-11-30T01:46:54Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I thought the beauty of Flavor-Aid (as a kid) was that it was a kool-aid type powder that you dipped that white stick into and licked off the crystals… > 😕 That would be [Fun-Dip or Lik M Aid](http://www.candy.org/?p=5) Flavor Aid was to Kool Aid what Hydrox was Oreos. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/10 "2010-11-30T01:50:59Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Not currently, but these docs air with some regularity on the various “doc” channels (Nat Geo, Discovery, etc.). This footage is pretty much part and parcel of any doc relating to the Jonestown. I’d want to be sure that footage wasn’t reenactment footage someone filmed for dramatic effect. If the question of which was used wasn’t settled, they could have used both to avoid complaints from the two companies. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/11 "2010-11-30T02:04:37Z")
Here’s the [oldest story on the suicides](http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dR0sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9sYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2055,6442988&dq=jim+jones&hl=en)I could find. The story says it was Kool-Aid. However, it was based on the eyewitness report of a survivor, who, I’m guessing, was not precise about the use of brand names. I think we’ll need more definitive original source material. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/12 "2010-11-30T03:18:39Z")
Evidently [Kool Aid](http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/thumb/6/60/Wikipedia_Hates_Kool_Aid.gif/180px-Wikipedia_Hates_Kool_Aid.gif)considered a prime candidate for awhile 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/13 "2010-11-30T14:30:11Z")
Regardless of the actual facts, Kool-Aid will be forever associated with the Jonestown suicides. Pass the Kool-Aid. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/14 "2010-11-30T14:49:22Z")
Of course Wiki has an article!: [Drinking the Kool-Aid - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_the_Kool-Aid) ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/15 "2010-11-30T16:07:34Z")
I did research on the massacre (for a debate) the year after it occurred and I don’t remember coming across any mention of Flavor Aid at that time. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t the brand used, since people often lump similar products under the brand name they are most familiar with. Pass the Kleenex. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/16 "2010-11-30T16:53:48Z")
It’s on top of the fridge. After I’m done xeroxing this, I need an aspirin, but then I’ll get it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/17 "2010-11-30T17:31:39Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > It’s on top of the fridge. After I’m done xeroxing this, I need an aspirin, but then I’ll get it for you. Yeesh. After that many brand-name jokes, I need something stronger than aspirin. Perhaps some nice heroin. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/18 "2010-11-30T17:41:08Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Yeesh. After that many brand-name jokes, I need something stronger than aspirin. Perhaps some nice heroin. Aspirin is still a brand name in some places (like Canada). For those in places (like Canada), it’s a lost trademark in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/19 "2010-11-30T23:52:51Z")
Time’s reporters mention Flavor Aid: [http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1859872\_1799897,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1859872_1799897,00.html) But, if someone can trace this documentary we could see if indeed \*\*both \*\*Kool-Aid and Flavor-Aid were present at the scene of the crime! > **[Sign in - Google Accounts](https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogin%3Fu%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fxrayspex.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fx-ray-spex-horror-movie-marathon_17.html&dsh=S-265827448%3A1761123212034008&followup=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogin%3Fu%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fxrayspex.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fx-ray-spex-horror-movie-marathon_17.html&ifkv=AfYwgwV3134q1WSocwKKBpdtmeuZfikKx_2VimqEU81W3ID1JjdqtCaUcUVrT3TWrEOuqtDo0IKAIg&passive=1209600&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin)** > [@](#): > > THE KILLING OF AMERICA, as the subtle, understated title implies, is about violence in the United States. Released in 1982 – but, tellingly, not released in America – the documentary charts famous and infamous crimes over the past few decades. They range from random convenience store shootings to the mass killings at Jonestown. It’s an intense viewing experience, but it’s grimly fascinating, too. Tough to watch, but tougher to look away. > > … > > We meet usual suspects Charles Manson, David Berkowitz and Jim Jones (who, giving a tour of the Jonestown supply hut, displays a case of Kool Aid and Fla-Vor-Aid). The site shows an image of an open case with both Kool-Aid and Flavor-aid boxes, reported to appear when Jim Jones gives the tour. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348/20 "2010-12-01T01:16:26Z")
Never mind, I found the clip: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk6EGP1Nngc) (First 20 seconds) (Rest of the video suitable only for mature audiences) Jim Jones himself opening the crate and inside, Flavor-Ade ( :dubious: ) \*\*and \*\*Kool-Aid. He does mention the Kool-Aid, but I have some doubts about the Flavor-Aid, looks like it says Flavor-Aid, but can someone confirm if the boxes look like the wholesale packaging that Flavor-Aid used in the 80’s? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-jones-and-the-suicides-why-flavor-aid-and-not-kool-aid/562348.md?page=2)