ACCIDENTAL ACUTE FATAL SODIUM-NITRITE POISONING

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. Analys is of urine, gastric contents, fiver and kidney, collected at the time of autopsy, confirmed the presence of these chemical substances in hi gh concentrations. Epidemiological data indicated that the food poison ing occurred due to the accidental use of sodium nitrite and potassium arsenate instead of table salt in the preparation of tamarind (Tamari ndus indica) soup.