Chinese children made critically ill by preserved melon drink

Three children from southern China were made critically ill after they were poisoned by a three-year-old drink made from preserved melons, according to a news website report.

The siblings from Zhongshan in Guangdong province were given the drink by their mother to improve their appetite, Kankan News reported.

The four-year-old boy and 10-month-old twin boys suffered from nitrite poisoning, according to the article. They were treated in intensive care, but are now recovering.

The children’s faces and lips turned blue a few hours after taking the drink and they had to be rushed to hospital.

Many Chinese believe a soup made from winter melon and barley can help reduce inflammation and help the body cope with hot weather, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.