Over 150 Fall Ill in Delhi After Consuming Buckwheat Flour: Food Safety Probe Launched

New Delhi, September 23, 2025 – More than 150 people across several neighbourhoods of Delhi reported vomiting, uneasiness and stomach discomfort on Tuesday morning after consuming buckwheat flour (“kuttu ka atta”), widely used during religious fasting. The incident triggered an immediate food safety investigation by the Delhi government’s food department.

According to the Delhi Police, the first call came at 6:10 AM on September 23, alerting them that multiple residents had fallen sick after eating buckwheat flour. The cases were reported from Jahangirpuri, Mahendra Park, Samaypur, Bhalswa Dairy, Lal Bagh and Swaroop Nagar, all located in north and central Delhi. These areas saw several families experiencing similar symptoms shortly after consuming the flour for breakfast.

Medical officials at Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital confirmed that affected individuals were brought in for treatment. Dr. Vishesh Yadav, Chief Medical Officer at BJRM, said patients were given immediate care and all were stable. “No one needed hospital admission,” he stated, noting that the symptoms appeared mild but were treated as a precaution.

The Delhi Police informed the food safety department, which has now launched an investigation into the source, distribution and quality of the flour. Authorities are working to identify the specific batch that caused the illnesses.

According to a 2021 review, buckwheat is generally considered a nutritious food but can pose health risks for some people. The paper notes that buckwheat may cause IgE-mediated allergic reactions, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe responses such as anaphylaxis.

Sensitisation is not limited to eating buckwheat products; it can also occur through inhaling flour dust or husks during processing or storage. In sensitive individuals, these reactions can include skin problems, respiratory issues and gastrointestinal effects like nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain, highlighting the need for awareness about buckwheat allergies despite its widespread use during fasting periods.

Buckwheat flour is a staple during fasting periods such as Navratri. Any contamination or adulteration can lead to mass health problems. This episode has raised fresh concerns about the safety of packaged fasting foods, their supply chain oversight and quality control standards. Officials are urging people in the affected areas to exercise caution until test results are confirmed.

Reference:

1. Norbäck, Dan, and Gunilla Wieslander. “A Review on Epidemiological and Clinical Studies on Buckwheat Allergy.” Plants 10, no. 3 (2021): 607. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030607.

(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)