70 Hospitalised In Noida After Eating Kuttu Atta: Why Buckwheat Flour Makes People Sick So Often

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 15:03 IST

Local authorities responded by filing an FIR, sealing at least two shops and a warehouse suspected of supplying the contaminated or adulterated buckwheat flour.

Dozens of people across multiple residential societies — including Supertech Ecovillage-3, Royal Court Society, and Himalayan Pride — fell sick on Mahashivrati on Sunday, shortly after eating food prepared with kuttu atta (buckwheat flour) while breaking their fast. Symptoms included nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever and dizziness, and many were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Reports say around 70 people were affected in these societies. Local authorities responded by filing an FIR, sealing at least two shops and a warehouse suspected of supplying the contaminated or adulterated buckwheat flour, and detaining several individuals connected with the supply.

Preliminary investigations suggest the flour might have been adulterated or contaminated, but official lab test results to confirm the exact cause (e.g., bacterial contamination, fungal toxins) are still pending.

Similar Incidents In The Past

However, this is not the first incident of people falling sick. Several such incidents have been reported in the past:

2025 – Delhi mass food poisoning

During Navratri in north-west Delhi, around 150 – 200 people fell sick with vomiting and nausea soon after consuming food made with kuttu atta. Cases were reported from multiple localities, and authorities launched an investigation into the flour’s quality.

2024 – Bijnor & Meerut (UP)

On the first day of Navratri, at least 250 people in villages across Bijnor and Meerut districts became ill after eating fritters made from buckwheat flour. Many were treated for symptoms like stomach ache, diarrhoea, dizziness and fainting, and shops from where the flour was bought were identified for investigation.

2024 – Uttar Pradesh multiple villages

In another Navratri-season incident, around 125–150 people across several villages in the UP region fell sick after eating puris and pakodas prepared with kuttu atta. Local officials were tracing the source of the flour to determine contamination or adulteration.

2023 – Sonipat (Haryana)

On the first day of Navratri, about 350 people in Sonipat suffered food poisoning after consuming meals made with suspect kuttu atta. There were reports of hospitalisation, especially among women and children.

2023 – Modinagar and Ghaziabad (UP)

In the same period, at least 17 people in Ghaziabad’s Modinagar area were admitted to hospitals with abdominal pain and diarrhoea after eating food made from buckwheat flour.

2020 – Uttarakhand village cases

In Navratri 2020, around 32 people in rural areas of Roorkee (Uttarakhand) became sick after eating rotis made from kuttu atta. Officials later seized remaining stock and investigated the supply.

Why Do So Many People Fall Sick After Eating Kuttu Atta?

Such incidents appear common as kuttu atta is a seasonal, high-risk product that sees sudden, massive demand during festivals like Navratri and Mahashivratri — and that combination creates the perfect conditions for contamination.

Contamination: For most of the year, buckwheat flour isn’t widely consumed. But during fasting festivals, demand suddenly explodes across North India. In such situations, old stock may be pushed into the market. Small mills are made to ramp up production quickly and quality checks may not keep pace with volume. When supply chains stretch like, standards can slip.

Poor storage conditions: Kuttu atta is particularly sensitive to moisture and heat. If stored improperly, it can develop fungal growth. It may produce mycotoxins (toxins from mould). It can spoil faster than regular wheat flour. Unlike packaged wheat flour, kuttu atta is often sold loose in local markets, increasing contamination risk.

Short shelf life: Because it contains higher natural oils than wheat, buckwheat flour can turn bad faster. If not refrigerated or stored airtight, it develops a sour or musty smell and becomes unsafe to consume. Many buyers may not check freshness carefully, especially when buying in a rush before fasting.

The way it’s eaten: During fasting, people eat after long gaps. Meals are often deep-fried (puris, pakodas) and portion sizes can be large. An empty stomach with oily food and dense flour lead to higher chance of digestive distress — even if the flour isn’t contaminated.

News lifestyle 70 Hospitalised In Noida After Eating Kuttu Atta: Why Buckwheat Flour Makes People Sick So Often