Foodborne disease outbreak due to consumption of rancid biscuits

A foodborne disease outbreak characterized by vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, involving mostly children was investigated. Epidemiological, hospital and laboratory investigations indicated that the disease outbreak was associated with consumption of rancid biscuits abandoned in the street corner in a crowded locality of old city Hyderabad. The offensive flavors of rancidity were masked by the strong pineapple flavor used in the biscuits. Rancidity of the biscuits was confirmed by high peroxide value and acidity of extracted fat. Bacterial contamination was excluded by the total aerobic plate counts and negative tests for Staphylococcus and Salmonella.