SHILLONG, AUG 27: The death of a 12-year-old student in Tura was due to acute gastroenteritis leading to acute kidney injury and not due to consumption of Sting energy drink, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla told the Assembly on Thursday.
He was replying to TMC MLA Rupa Marak, who said the written reply mentioned only the ban on Sting and not the cause of death.
Shylla said the child died at Civil Hospital, Tura, of “irreversible shock, acute gastroenteritis leading to acute kidney injury.”
Following media reports linking the death to Sting, the Commissionerate of Food Safety on August 14 froze sale of Sting under the Food Safety and Standards Act and ordered an inquiry.
“The inquiry report received on August 15 found no causal relation between the death and Sting in absence of evidence. Sale was then allowed. It was not an endorsement,” he said.
He added the child’s mother told officials her son was not fond of the energy drink and his clinical history showed no packet or processed food consumption.
Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma flagged complacency in food safety enforcement, saying the market is flooded with expired packet foods and children are at risk without advisories. He sought a review of the safety regime.
Shylla said surveillance existed before the incident – Sting samples lifted in April-May conformed to standards in NABL-accredited lab tests. Fresh samples drawn on August 14 from five districts have been sent for cross-checking and results are awaited.
He said 3,756 inspections, 2,844 regulatory and 5,741 surveillance samples were tested in the last three years.
By Our Reporter
