Food Poisoning: Alcohol
A severe problem occurred in West Bengal when toxic illegal alcohol led to the deaths of as many as 143 people in 2011. It is believed that the alcohol was corrupted by adding methanol, ammonium nitrate, or both. Each of the two substances are toxic to people, and its effects might include heart and respiratory problems.
Black market alcohol is a big issue in India, and toxic alcohol-related deaths are pretty common. The breweries in West Bengal often operate without any interference from authorities and frequently bribe the police.
But this contamination case led to 10 arrests. A man involved in the illegal alcohol trade told the BBC that a contaminated shipment was from a very greedy man who had mixed the alcohol with water and then added pesticide for “flavor.”
