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Orissa government's denial of starvation deaths in Kashipur was further supported by an expert medical team, which stated that toxic food, instead starvation killed people.
An expert medical team deputed by Orissa government to find the exact cause of starvation deaths of over 20 tribals in Kashipur block in Raygada observed that mycotoxins, a poison likely to be present in stale food, might have caused the recent deaths in Kashipur.
"This was the finding of the Berhampur Medical College that examined the deaths of 15 tribals," sources in health department said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after his visit to Kashipur on Thursday stated that deaths were due to food poisoning.
The report said that the inadequately preserved and processed mango kernel and ragi was capable of producing toxins.
"The findings of high fatality among the victims indicate possibility of other food toxins, possibly mycotoxins," the report said.
Ironically, the tribals in Kashipur's villages are still consuming mango kernel and ragi because they have nothing else to eat.
Even if the state sponsored medical team finding is to believed, then many more may die in coming days.
The report further pointed that contamination of mango kernel by fungus like Aspergillus and Fusarum, capable of producing toxins, might have been responsible for the deaths too.
RELATED REPORTS: Hungry villagers hurl mango kernels at Patnaik No starvation deaths: Patnaik Probe ordered in Kashipur welfare projects
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