Food adulteration

Adulterated food is food that contains unsafe ingredients/additives for human consumption or
lacks the necessary nutrients. Cases of food adulteration may be intentional or accidental. In the
former instance, profits for companies are the main motive. Consumption of inferior quality food
may cause cancer, neurological problems, fertility issues, etc.

The Minamata disaster in Japan, 1956

Introduction

The minamata disaster in Japan in 1956 was an environmental as well as a serious public health
issue. The chemical plant Chisso was dumping a by-product methylmercury in Minamata Bay as
from August 1951. Methyl mercury in turn accumulates in the fat tissue of fish and shellfish.
Humans consume these fish and they get what has been coined as the Minamata disease, a toxic
nervous disease which includes these symptoms; sensory disturbance, ataxia, concentric
constriction of the visual field, and auditory disorders, loss of consciousness and eventually
death may occur.

Causes

It was a period of high economic growth with industrialization taking hold. However, the legal
system was inefficient to prevent the occurrence and spread of serious pollution. A growing
number of people was falling sick because the cause of the disease was uncertain even though it
was known it was because of consumption of fish and shellfish. Identification of the metal was
too time consuming.

Consequences

In all, 900 people died and 2,265 people were certified as having directly suffered from mercury
poisoning - now known as Minamata disease

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/14/the_odd_body_minimata_disaster/

http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/minamata-disease/
https://www.env.go.jp/chemi/tmms/pr-m/mat01/en_full.pdf