Officials Rule Out Mangoes As Cause Of Teen Deaths; Await Toxicology Report
Officials said there was no evidence linking the consumption of mangoes to the deaths and stressed that the exact cause can only be determined after toxicology reports are received.
Hyderabad: Food safety officials have dismissed speculation that mangoes allegedly ripened using ethylene or calcium carbide were responsible for the death of two teenagers in Narayanguda, where the cause of death has been reported as multiple organ failure, and a third person remains in a critical condition at the intensive care unit of a hospital.
Officials said there was no evidence linking the consumption of mangoes to the deaths and stressed that the exact cause can only be determined after toxicology reports are received.
B. Laxmikanth, gazetted food inspector, Secunderabad, said fruits are unlikely to cause such severe complications unless there is a confirmed case of food poisoning.
“We recently saw a similar situation in the watermelon case in Mumbai, where reports initially blamed the fruit. Later, it emerged that rat poison was involved. Whether the substance was consumed through food or otherwise is a matter for investigation. Fruits do not normally cause such severe food poisoning, diarrhoea and multiple organ failure,” he said.
A food analyst from the State Food Laboratory at Nacharam said mango samples are frequently tested during the summer for artificial ripening agents. While ethylene is permitted in regulated quantities under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms, vendors sometimes misuse it in excess quantities.
“Even bananas are commonly ripened using ethylene. However, consumption of such fruits does not lead to death. At most, excessive exposure to ripening chemicals may cause minor health issues,” the analyst said.
Janga Reddy, gazetted food inspector for Khairatabad, said officials are still awaiting toxicology findings before drawing any conclusions.
“The media should exercise caution while reporting. We have not been able to trace the local vendor from whom the mangoes were purchased. The person who bought the mangoes also consumed them and remains healthy. Even calcium carbide exposure is generally associated with irritation, allergic reactions or vomiting, and not severe complications such as multiple organ failure,” he said.
Officials said investigations are continuing and that the toxicology report will be crucial in establishing the cause of the deaths.
