According to the Maduro government, humanitarian aid is "poisoned"

Delcy Rodríguez, vice president of Nicolás Maduro's government in Venezuela, said the food aid that the United States has sent to the country to alleviate the crisis "is carcinogenic and will poison those who consume it."

"This aid is contaminated and poisoned, it is carcinogenic, as show different scientific studies," said the official, without providing any evidence, in a speech broadcast on public television VTV.

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Rodríguez pointed out that the United States sought these donations and "through chemicals to poison" Venezuelans. "You must call us to alert, they are biological weapons, what they want with this humanitarian aid," he added.

He also described as "a cheap show" and an "insult" that the opposition and several governments in the region, led by the United States, point out that Venezuela needs help.

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Freddy Bernal, leader of the Chavez party, said Monday that at least 14 people were poisoned by eating food from aid collected in Cucuta, on the border between Colombia and Venezuela.