Kakinada: Four members of a family in Andhra Pradesh fell ill due to food poisoning on Tuesday, after consuming dal (lentils) prepared with toxic Datura flowers. They had added the flowers to the dish, believing they were beneficial for health after watching a cooking video on Instagram.
The incident occurred in Errampalem village of Gandepalli Mandal in Kakinada district. According to reports, the family watched a cooking reel on Instagram that suggested adding Datura flowers to dal was good for health. Trusting this information, they plucked Datura flowers growing in their home garden, cooked them with lentils, and consumed the dish.
Shortly after eating, all four family members began experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Neighbours rushed them to the Government General Hospital in Kakinada for treatment. The affected persons were identified as Veeralakshmi, Gangabhavani, Jayalakshmi, and Veerabbulu.
The Datura plant is highly toxic. Every part of the plant, including its leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots, is poisonous. Consumption can cause serious health issues such as rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), fever, blurred vision, hallucinations, and, in some cases, death. Known locally as ‘Ummetha Puvvu’ in Telugu, Datura is also referred to in English as Jimsonweed, thornapple, or devil’s trumpet. The flowers are used as offerings during Ganesh Chaturthi festivals, but discarded after the rituals are over; however, the plant is not safe for consumption.
This incident highlights a growing concern about misinformation on social media. Many individuals, in the name of content, are creating and sharing videos about “healthy” food recipes without proper knowledge or scientific understanding of the ingredients involved. Such content can be misleading and, in some cases like this one, can be dangerous.
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