Tragic Family Poisoning : Child Dies From Boiled Potatoes

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Wed Sep 23, 2020 3:45 pm

Cambodia News (Pursat): On September 21, 2020, a family of 4 people, a father and 3 young kids, got food poisoning after eating boiled potatoes in Rohal village, Talose district, Pursat.

On September 22, 2020, at 7:05 am, Lieutenant Hem Mony, who investigated the case, reported via a phone call that it wasn't the first time the family were poisoned by eating potatoes. It seems that the grandfather had previously got food poisoning after eating the potatoes, but he recovered and was fine.

In this case, it was the father and his three children who were poisoned after eating boiled potatoes. The father took his children to the Rohal Tel health center, but his youngest daughter died. She was only three years old.

The family is a single parent family with the father, Vath Van, 35 years old, bringing up three daughters aged 3, 5, and 12 years old.

Post by **Username Taken** » Wed Sep 23, 2020 4:37 pm

I don't think the word potatoes used here is referring to the potatoes (spuds) that we are familiar with. There are other local root vegetables that the locals refer to as dumlong (potato).

I seem to recall in one of the books about the Khmer Rouge, that there are some varieties that are actually poisonous and KR cadre would stand back and say nothing as young kids would eat the poisonous ones. @John Bingham ?

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Wed Sep 23, 2020 5:01 pm

I'm not sure what type they mean, but potatoes are in the Nightshade family and can be poisonous, especially if green or sprouting. The sweet potatoes eaten here more commonly can be infected with a toxic fungus.

nemo · Post by **nemo** » Wed Sep 23, 2020 9:01 pm

Most likely bitter cassava insufficiently processed. English speaking Khmers sometimes call it "tree potato".
Known to be deadly.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/d ... 23641.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/science/blo ... -venezuela

Jerry Atrick · Post by **Jerry Atrick** » Wed Sep 23, 2020 9:11 pm

Cassava = Dumloem Mee

Some varieties are poisonous when fresh, before being dried and processed. Form of cyanide.

This happens almost each year, sadly.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/ ... 0described.