How dangerous is adulterated mustard oil, which took away the lives of 6 people in Jharkhand?

Palamu Mustard Oil Incident: Nowadays adulterated things have increased a lot in the market. In such a situation, six people of the same family died tragically due to consumption of adulterated mustard oil in Sikka village of Palamu district of Jharkhand. Initial investigation has revealed that the oil that the victim’s family was using was adulterated with Argemone Mexicana i.e. ‘Satyanashi’ or ‘Yellow Datura’ oil. According to the investigation report of Ranchi’s State Food Testing Laboratory, these six people died of a deadly disease called ‘Epidemic Dropsy’. Let us know how dangerous such oil is?

How did six people die?

Civil Surgeon of Palamu district, Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava has confirmed the reason behind these deaths. He says that these deaths were not due to any mysterious disease, but due to the use of Argemone Mexicana i.e. adulterated mustard oil. Kuldeep Mahato was the first in the family to die on 19 June. The very next day his daughter Babita Kumari breathed her last. Anuj Mahato, who worked in Bengaluru, immediately returned home after hearing the news of the death of his father and sister. On June 26, Anuj’s younger sister Indu Kumari and on June 28, Anuj’s wife Shweta Devi died. On June 29, his brother Nakul Mahato and on July 8, his mother Lakho Devi also died.

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How dangerous is adulterated mustard oil?

Actually, mustard seeds and argemone (satyanashi) seeds are quite similar in appearance. When it enters our body in the form of adulterated oil, it acts like a slow poison. Argemone oil contains a poisonous element called sanguinarin, which directly damages delicate organs like heart, liver and kidney.

How to avoid adulterated mustard oil?

In such a situation, you can identify pure and adulterated mustard oil even at home. The aroma of pure mustard oil is very pungent and causes tingling in the nose. If the smell is missing from the oil or a strange smell is coming, then the oil may be adulterated. Whereas, the color of pure oil is dark yellow and thick. At the same time, oil that looks too clear, light or watery may be adulterated. Nowadays, adulterated oil and other food items are being sold in large quantities in the market, in such a situation we have to keep in mind that the shopkeeper is not giving us adulterated things.

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