Punjab: Officials have revealed that the cake linked with the 10-year-old girl's demise in Punjab was baked using a high concentration of artificial sweetener. The incident occurred on March 24 when the girl's entire family fell ill after consuming a chocolate cake ordered online from a bakery in Patiala to celebrate her birthday.
Following the incident, a sample of the cake was collected for testing and the report indicated the presence of a high amount of saccharine, a synthetic compound known for its sweet taste. Dr. Vijay Jindal, the District Health Officer (DHO), confirmed that while small quantities of saccharine are commonly used in food and beverages, elevated levels can cause a rapid increase in blood glucose levels.
Authorities have stated that appropriate action will be taken against the bakery, and a fine may be imposed. A First Information Report (FIR) has already been filed against the owner of the bakery.
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In the viral video circulated on social media, the young girl named Manvi can be seen joyfully cutting the cake and celebrating with her family mere hours before her tragic demise.
Shortly after the cake-cutting, the entire family, including Manvi's younger sister, fell ill. The girls experienced vomiting, and Manvi complained of dryness in her mouth and an intense feeling of thirst, as recounted by her grandfather.
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The family immediately rushed Manvi to a nearby hospital when she lost consciousness. Despite efforts to stabilise her condition with oxygen, she was declared dead shortly thereafter. The family has alleged that the chocolate cake obtained from 'Cake Kanha' contained poisonous substances.