In 1998, adulterated mustard oil in Delhi caused widespread dropsy, resulting in 60 deaths and illnesses in more than 3,000 people. The contamination was caused by the mixing of white oil, a petroleum product, with edible mustard oil. The incident highlighted the dangers of food adulteration in India and led to a ban on loose mustard oil sales.

The Delhi oil poisoning was a major public health crisis that was covered extensively in the Indian press and became a subject for poets and writers. The incident inspired social commentary and literature that critiqued the failure of regulation and the exploitation of consumers. It also contributed to the growing awareness of food safety issues in India and the need for stronger enforcement.