Key Update

Nearly 97 employees of a private company in north Bengaluru fell ill and required hospitalisation earlier this week after consuming canteen meals. The employees, working at a facility in Devanahalli, ate idli and vadas for breakfast, followed by rice and sambar for lunch on Tuesday. However, by evening, many employees began experiencing abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea. As symptoms worsened overnight, several of them needed hospital care by Wednesday morning.

Treatment and Immediate Response

Doctors admitted the affected employees to two private hospitals and treated them with intravenous fluids. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. Meanwhile, Bengaluru Rural District Health Officer Dr Krishna Reddy confirmed that officials have collected leftover food samples and sent them for laboratory testing, with results still awaited.

Probe Into Food Safety Practices

At the same time, health officials have begun investigating the incident as suspected food poisoning. They are closely examining food preparation, storage, and hygiene practices at the canteen. While authorities have not yet identified the exact cause, experts explain that fermented foods like idli batter can easily get contaminated—especially during warmer months—if handlers do not store or manage them properly.

Larger Concerns Around Food Contamination

Meanwhile, the incident has once again brought attention to broader food safety concerns in the city. A recent study by the Central Pollution Control Board found that 26% of vegetable samples supplying Bengaluru contained lead levels beyond permissible limits. The study analysed 72 samples collected from areas such as Nelamangala, Kolar, and Chikkaballapura, along with retail outlets like HOPCOMS and APMC markets. As a result, 19 samples failed to meet safety standards, with some showing extremely high contamination levels.

For instance, brinjals contained lead levels up to 20 times above the limit, while little gourd and flat beans showed levels 18 times and nine times higher, respectively. Consequently, medical experts warn that such heavy metal exposure acts as a “slow poison,” posing serious long-term health risks, particularly for children and young adults.

Source: Money Control