Ergotism is due to consumption of
- Acontaminated grainsCorrect
- Brotting vegetables
- Ccontaminated water
- Dstale cooked food
Explanation
Ergotism is a form of poisoning caused by the ingestion of grains, particularly rye, wheat, and barley, that have been contaminated by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. This fungus replaces the healthy grain kernels with dark, toxic masses called sclerotia. These sclerotia contain potent alkaloids that, when consumed through flour or cereal products, can lead to serious health issues including gangrene and neurological symptoms. Therefore, the consumption of contaminated grains is the direct cause of this condition.
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