The ITBP has ordered the isolation of the entire contaminated stock which was scheduled to go to the battalions posted in the high-altitude border areas.

Interestingly, the ITBP had sent samples from the same consignment to the same laboratory on August 17 and they were given a given clearance certificate by the PFA which said: `It is fit for human consumption'.

The ITBP Stock and Services Battalion, posted in the Saboli near Narela and responsible for delivering the provisions to the border posts, sent back the consignment for a second test to the PFA on September 4. This was after a large number of dropsy deaths were reported from various parts of the city.

And this time the ITBP wasgiven a report by the same PFA lab, saying the pickle consignment was tested to be argemone positive, meaning the oil used was adulterated.

When the confused ITBP provisions department sought an explanation from the PFA on the contradictory reports, they were told that the reports were in perfect conformity with their tests conducted by the PFA. They were never asked to conduct the argemone test by the ITBP, so it was not done the first time.

``The reports are not contradictory. Nowhere did the ITBP August 17 specifications mentioned that the tests for argemone oil (adulteration) should be carried out. On September 4 the sample was sent for analysis of argemone oil and it was carried out,'' the PFA public analyst Dr Satya Prakash wrote back.

Incidentally, the first dropsy deaths were reported on August 6. Much before the pickle consignment was sent to the PFA for testing and the directorate was supposedly on a red-alert on mustard oil contamination.

The ITBP headquarters issued general departmentaldirections to have all mustard oil-based products in its stores to be tested for adulteration. The massive exercise involve inspection and testing of available stocks all over the country and subject to sample testing.