Sudden hair loss in Maharashtra's Buldhana: Is Punjab’s wheat to blame? Govt says this

The government has stated that there is no solid proof yet linking high selenium levels in wheat to the sudden hair loss cases reported in Maharashtra's Buldhana.

While some local experts suspect high selenium levels in wheat sourced from Punjab, government sources told TOI that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is also testing other food items to find the actual cause of the unusual health issue.

A food ministry official, quoted by TOI, said, "There has been no such report from any other state." Punjab is the biggest supplier of wheat to the central stock managed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), followed by Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Last season, Punjab contributed 128 lakh tonnes of wheat, which made up 47% of the total stock.

Wheat distributed through PDS

Wheat from this stock is given free under the Public Distribution System (PDS) through the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna. The issue is being closely followed by junior health minister Prataprao Jadhav, who is also the MP from Buldhana. Speaking to TOI, Jadhav said, "The situation is under control."

More investigations underway

Jadhav confirmed that ICMR and other central and state agencies are monitoring the situation and working to identify the cause. He told TOI, "Selenium is present in many foods, not just wheat. Some wheat samples have shown high levels of selenium, but it's too early to blame it for hair loss. Other food items are also being investigated."

Government sources also said that contaminated water and nutritional deficiencies are being examined as possible causes, TOI reported.

Inputs from TOI