title: Accidental acute fatal sodium nitrite poisoning.
abstract: An accidental food poisoning outbreak occurred resulting in the death of 14 of the 22 affected persons. Chemical analysis of food materials revealed the presence of sodium nitrite and potassium arsenate. Analysis of urine, gastric contents, liver and kidney, collected at the time of autopsy, confirmed the presence of these chemical substances in high concentrations. Epidemiological data indicated that the food poisoning occurred due to the accidental use of sodium nitrite and potassium arsenate instead of table salt in the preparation of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) soup.
authors.affiliation: Food and Drug Toxicology Research Centre, National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gautami
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Raghuram
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajagopalan
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D012977:Sodium Nitrite