Tainted school lunch kills at least 22 children in India

[Ptarmigan]

Tainted school lunch kills at least 22 children in India
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-india-school-food-poisoning-20130717,0,4586317.story

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.

Terrible that children and parents have to bury them.  I wonder if this could be terrorism.

[Chris_]

I wonder if this could be terrorism.

I'm thinking it's more likely due to poor sanitation and/or overuse of pesticides and poisons.

[thundley4]

I'm thinking it's more likely due to poor sanitation and/or overuse of pesticides and poisons.

^^ Sounds like it.

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.