What are Capsaicin & Capsaicinoids?
Oleoresin Capsicum is comprised of several different Capsaicinoids. The Capsaicinoid is responsible for providing the pungency or hotness of a pepper and in turn “Pepper Spray” is called Capsaicin. The Major Capsaicinoids Content (MCC) represents the heat bearing and pain producing components of the defense spray. Therefore, it is the % of the total capsaicinoids and capsaicin, not the capsicum % that is important. Oleoresin Capsicum percentages (OC %) only measure the amount of red pepper contained in the defense spray, not the pungency or effectiveness of the product. For instance, although the Michigan version of Sabre Red produced for REASONABLE FORCE is only 2% OC (as required by Michigan Law), it is many times hotter than many of the other 5% &10% OC sprays carried by most police departments. See next section on SHU’s.
