Organophosphate Insecticide Said To Cause Indian School Lunch Deaths

"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Indian authorities on Wednesday were trying to determine how food served as part of a free school lunch program got tainted with insecticide, leading to the deaths of at least 22 children and the hospitalization of more than two dozen others."



"The children, who were between the ages of 5 and 12, attended a school in a small village in the eastern state of Bihar. After eating a lunch of potatoes, soybeans, rice and lentils on Tuesday, they began complaining of severe stomach pain and were vomiting, authorities said.

Authorities told Indian media that preliminary laboratory tests showed the food contained an organophosphate used as an insecticide. But they were still trying to find out what part of the meal was contaminated, and whether the poisonings were due to improper washing of ingredients."

Alex Rodriguez reports for the Los Angeles Times July 17, 2013.

SEE ALSO:

"Understanding Pesticide’s Role in India Child Deaths: Q&A" (Bloomberg)

"India School Lunch Deaths: Children Died From Ingesting Insecticide In Food Or Cooking Oil" (AP)

Source: LA Times, 07/18/2013