Mumbai: More than a week after a family of four died in Bhendi Bazaar’s Pydhonie, top officials at Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories (DFSL) suspect three possible causes of death: bacterial contamination, fungal growth, and organic or inorganic toxins.“We are still not convinced that this wasn’t a case of fungal or bacterial contamination,” said a senior DFSL doctor. He said FDA should have ruled that out but it did not test for that. FDA has ruled out additives like colours or sweetener in various food samples collected, including the half-eaten watermelon.Currently, DFSL reports are being used to determine if organic or inorganic toxins were present in the food samples or the victims’ viscera.Joint commissioner (food) Mahesh Chaudhary said the initial samples were insufficient for microbiological testing. Another official had earlier claimed the FDA lab simply lacked the necessary equipment to perform those specific tests.The DFSL official said the final reports are expected later this week. “So far, our findings have been inconclusive. No chemical compounds have been detected in any of the samples yet, but the final analysis should provide definitive answers.”
