NEET PG High-Yield: Food Toxicants
Food poisoning and toxicity are frequent topics in Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM). These can be naturally occurring in food, introduced by contaminants, or produced by microorganisms.
Common Food Toxicants
| Toxicant/Source | Condition/Associated Feature |
|---|---|
| Argemone Oil | Epidemic Dropsy (Sanguinarine toxin; causes edema/glaucoma). |
| Aflatoxin | Produced by Aspergillus flavus; associated with Liver Cancer. |
| Ergot | Ergotism (“St. Anthony’s Fire”), caused by Claviceps purpurea. |
| Akaboshi/Fish | Scombroid poisoning (Histamine) or Ciguatera poisoning. |
High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:
- Epidemic Dropsy: Characterized by cardiac failure and glaucoma. The toxin is Sanguinarine.
- Lathyrism: Caused by BOAA in Lathyrus sativus; leads to spastic paraparesis.
- Aflatoxins: Often found in moldy peanuts and cereals; significant public health risk due to carcinogenicity.
- Testing: Routine food surveillance programs check for these markers in local food chains to prevent outbreaks.