Mumbai family deaths: FDA finds no additives in watermelon sample, but bacteria not ruled out yet

A shopowner, his wife and two daughters died within a little over 24 hours of a dinner at their Bhendi Bazaar home on the night of 25 April.

All four members of the family died one by one within a little over 24 hours after consuming biryani and watermelon | By special arrangement

New Delhi: The watermelon consumed by a Mumbai family of four who died last week after hosting a feast contained no adulterants or synthetic dyes, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has said, but the agency has been unable to rule out bacterial contamination so far.

“There is no presence of any additives. No artificial sweeter, or colours. We have not been able to conduct bacteria test,” an FDA source told ThePrint.

Shop owner Abdullah (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and their daughters Zainab (13) and Ayesha (16) died one after the other within a little over 24 hours of a dinner at their Bhendi Bazaar home on the night of 25 April.

The family had hosted a biryani feast for five others; when the guests left, the four ate watermelon around 1–1.30 am. Soon after, they developed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The FDA source said that the agency was unable to conduct bacterial analysis because the watermelon samples—lifted a day after the incident—had by then developed fungus. Tests on the water sample proved inconclusive.

A date fruit sample collected from the scene was too small in size and quantity to be tested. Meat samples are currently being examined by a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) lab. Both forensic and FDA teams are conducting parallel tests.

A police officer told ThePrint they are yet to receive the FDA report, and are also awaiting the post-mortem and forensic findings. They said the post-mortem report may offer clarity on the cause of death.

The investigation has been further hampered as fruit vendors have stopped selling watermelons in the neighbourhood.

“All sellers have left the market, due to fear of media, FDA, police, and the fear among the people. There are fruit sellers, but just nobody selling watermelons. This has hampered our sample testing,” a second FDA source said.

The official added that it had received no other complaints of illness linked to watermelon consumption. “If the watermelon was infected, it would be likely to show signs in other cases too…” the source said.

Police have collected samples of biryani, water, and watermelon pieces for examination. A case of unnatural death has been registered at JJ Marg police station.