Poison content in midday meal was 5 times more than what is found in pesticide

In an alarming revelation, forensic examination of the midday meal in the affected school in Bihar has found that the poison content in the food was five times more than what is found in insecticides and pesticides. Scientists found the presence of monocrotophos — an organophosphorus compound — in the samples of cooking oil and food. The report of investigators was, however, silent on why such quantity of monocrotophos was present in the meal. The forensic report said that, the peak area of the poisonous substance in the oil was more than five times in comparison to the commercial preparations.

Tests were conducted on samples of cooking oil, a plastic container found at the

school, leftover food (rice and vegetable) from the utensils and plates, as well as other material like froth from the mouth of a sick child, water and oil from the local cold press extraction process. The samples were compared with a pesticide called hilcron, procured from the market. Monocrotophos is used as a pesticide for agricultural purpose. It is very toxic to human beings and other animals.

The use of organophosphorus insecticides is “banned or restricted in 23 countries and its import is illegal in a total of 50 countries. Its use was banned in the U.S. in 2000 and it has not been used since 2003. The usage of such insecticides continues to be used because of the political patronage enjoyed by the manufacturers of these insecticides. 

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