1998 Delhi oil poisoning explained

In 1998, adulterated mustard oil poisoning in Delhi resulted in widespread dropsy and deaths of 60 people and illness of more than 3000.[1] [2] [3] It was revealed that white oil, a petroleum product, was mixed with edible mustard oil.[4] Sale of mustard in loose quantity was banned by a court order, to prevent more health hazards.[5] In September 1998, the ban on packed mustard oil was removed after a Cabinet decision with a condition that the date of packing should be prominently displayed.[6] Even though mustard oil is banned as an edible oil in countries like USA, Canada and EU due to its erucic acid content,[7] the oil is widely used as an edible oil in North India, Pakistan and Nepal.

Legal action

In 1998, the Prevention of Food Adulteration Department booked one trader for adulteration of mustard oil. After a prolonged legal battle, the trader was found guilty and in 2008, was sentenced to just two years imprisonment and a mere ₹5,000 fine.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Verma . S. K. . Dev . G. . Tyagi . A. K. . Goomber . S. . Jain . G. V. . 2001-01-01 . Argemone mexicana poisoning: autopsy findings of two cases . Forensic Science International . 115 . 1–2 . 135–141 . 10.1016/s0379-0738(00)00322-4 . 0379-0738 . 11056284.
  2. Kumar . Sanjay . 1998-09-12 . Outbreak of dropsy in India linked with adulterated mustard oil… . The Lancet . English . 352 . 9131 . 884 . 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)60012-8 . 205941647 . 0140-6736.
  3. Aggarwal . K. C. . Prasad . M. S. . Salhan . R. N. . Yadav . D. . Pandit . N. . Goyal . P. C. . Garg . M. . October 2001 . A two-centre collaborative study on clinico-epidemiological profile of a recent outbreak of epidemic dropsy in New Delhi (India) with special emphasis on its cardiac manifestations in pediatric patients . Journal of Tropical Pediatrics . 47 . 5 . 291–294 . 10.1093/tropej/47.5.291 . 0142-6338 . 11695729. free .
  4. News: Police focus on cooking oil container in Bihar mass poisoning case. 20 July 2013. 20 July 2013. Reuters.
  5. News: Sale of loose mustard oil banned. 21 July 2013. The Tribune. 27 August 1998.
  6. News: PTI. Delhi Govt to lift ban on mustard oil sale. 21 July 2013. The Indian Express. 20 September 1998.
  7. News: Mustard oil has health risks. https://web.archive.org/web/20130726094809/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-10/delhi/32155329_1_mustard-erucic-acid-cooking-oils. dead. 26 July 2013. 21 July 2013. The Times of India. 10 June 2012.
  8. News: Trader gets 2 years' RI for selling adulterated mustard oil . https://archive.today/20130721074528/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-27/delhi/27899854_1_mustard-oil-argemone-food-inspector. dead. 21 July 2013. 21 July 2013. . 27 November 2008.

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