Tortelli disgraceful: 200kg of pasta dumped by river amid calls for culprit to be sent to 'penne-tentiary'

4 May 2023, 16:24

The pasta was dumped alongside a New Jersey river
The pasta was dumped alongside a New Jersey river. Picture: Facebook

By Will Taylor

A clean up of more than 200kg of pasta near a river in New Jersey got under way in a bizarre case of food dumping.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Images of the discarded spaghetti and other types of pasta soon led to online puns about the culprits being sent to the "penne tentiary" as others speculated about the motive behind the macaroni mess.

A former council candidate for Old Bridge, north east of Philadelphia, shared photos the food dumped in mounds next to a creek.

Nina Jochnowitz said: "The township heard or read the comments and responded by doing a rapid cleanup the river basin and pasta dump.

"As my friend called it a "Mission Impasteable"!!! They also cleaned out all the garbage tossed in the basin.

"Thank you Kasey and the entire crew of Public Works!

"The Mayor and his [posse] continue to ignore the Sixth Ward.

"No surprise when we see the dumping of construction and other garbage spewed in all of the neighborhoods.

"This week, there was a new type of dumping, of excessive food, PASTA.

"A good Estimate is more than 500 pounds of pasta dumped adjacent to the streams intersecting with Hilliard and Mimi."

Read more: Princess of Ales: Hundreds gather to see Kate and William enjoy pint at iconic Soho pub ahead of Coronation

The clean up quickly drew attention – and pasta puns – online.

"We should send the perpetrators to the state penne tentiary," wrote one user on Reddit.

"It was pasta expiration date," quipped another.

The mess of pasta was left on the banks of a stream
The mess of pasta was left on the banks of a stream. Picture: Facebook

A third went for a series of jokes: "Cleaning this up will cost the town a pretty [penne]. I don't know what the criminals were on, they had to be totally sauced to do something like this. But I hope we spaghet justice."

Others suggested the culprits could be "Al Dente" and his partner "Lin Guine".

Despite the joke, Ms Jochnowitz said it illustrate a wider problem of dumping in the Old Bridge area.

Read more: Huge queues to sign up for dentist places shock patients as NHS medics blast 'Soviet' style scenes

"You might say, 'Who cares about pasta?' But pasta has a PH level that will impact the water stream," she told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"That water stream is important to clean up because it feeds into the town's water supply … It was one of the fastest cleanups I've ever seen here."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

After she was arrested she told detectives the stabbing was “punishment”.

Al Qaida-inspired student who stabbed MP could walk free from prison

Bank Of England In The City Of London

UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April following Trump Tariffs hit - as Reeves brands figures 'disappointing'

Elderly women watching TV in outpatient clinic waiting room in NHS hospital. UK

NHS should ‘tear up the outpatient model’, health service chief executive says

Brian Wilson passed away aged 82.

Surviving Beach Boys pay tribute to songwriter ‘genius’ Brian Wilson

Palestinians carry boxes and bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization approved by Israel, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 29, 2025.

Controversial aid distributer accuses Hamas of carrying out attack on bus transporting Palestinians

A net balance of 28% of professionals reported seeing the number of sales agreed falling. Sales volumes are generally expected to flatten out rather than fall in the three months ahead, the survey indicated.

House sales tipped to bounce back with 'strongest outlook' since February - but buyer interest still slipping

Supporters of Dignity in Dying celebrate on hearing the result of the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London.

UK doctor says helping patients die in Australia is a ‘tremendous privilege’ and calls for law change at home

The body of Yair Yaakov, 59, has reportedly been recovered.

Two more hostages recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza, Netanyahu says

There were reports of vehicles being damaged and burned out, stolen cars, motorbikes being used and bricks thrown at officers amid the disorder, Greater Manchester Police said.

Girl, 16, charged with assaulting an emergency worker in Salford after ‘60 masked youths’ clash with police

The affected products include the Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, “Misfits” Gummies, Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Berry Gummies, the FSA said.

'Don't eat them': Brits told to avoid popular American sweets linked to cancer amid 'toxicological concern'

A woman has been arrested after a four-year-old boy was found dead in Dunholme End.

Boy, 4, found dead inside Maidenhead home as police arrest woman on suspicion of murder

St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd

Village church ordered to silence 'cherished' chiming bells after residents' complaints spark huge row

The Bridgerton actress said she has been left with a concussion and "on edge" - and the incident traumatised her dog.

Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour left 'traumatised' after fighting off phone thief who threatened to 'stab' her

Shopper walking through the aisle of a supermarket.

Deadly disease outbreak linked to 'contaminated' UK supermarket item

Demonstrators gathered outside Stoke Newington Police Station in protest against police in schools, after it emerged that a 15-year-old Black girl ('Child Q') was strip-searched by police at a Hackney school, which is thought to be racially motivated.

Officer who strip-searched black schoolgirl while she was on her period admits failings but denies racist motivation

Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England

My mum finds Jude Bellingham’s on-field antics repulsive, says Thomas Tuchel