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.

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]

References

  1. ↑ Verma, S. K.; Dev, G.; Tyagi, A. K.; Goomber, S.; Jain, G. V. (1 January 2001). "Argemone mexicana poisoning: autopsy findings of two cases". Forensic Science International. 115 (1–2): 135–141. doi:10.1016/s0379-0738(00)00322-4. ISSN 0379-0738. PMID 11056284.
  2. ↑ Kumar, Sanjay (12 September 1998). "Outbreak of dropsy in India linked with adulterated mustard oil…". The Lancet. 352 (9131): 884. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)60012-8. ISSN 0140-6736. S2CID 205941647.
  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. doi:10.1093/tropej/47.5.291. ISSN 0142-6338. PMID 11695729.
  4. ↑ "Police focus on cooking oil container in Bihar mass poisoning case". Reuters. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Sale of loose mustard oil banned". The Tribune. 27 August 1998. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  6. ↑ PTI (20 September 1998). "Delhi Govt to lift ban on mustard oil sale". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Mustard oil has health risks". The Times of India. 10 June 2012. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Trader gets 2 years' RI for selling adulterated mustard oil". The Times of India. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.

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