Wamuzi News Ke
Arsenic has been detected in the blood of one of three women who passed away after consuming a Christmas cake in a suspected poisoning incident in Brazil, as reported by a police chief to local media.
The dangerous substance was also found in the blood tests of a 10-year-old boy and the woman who baked the cake – both of whom are currently hospitalized.
Five members of the same family became ill after eating the cake during a gathering in Torres, located in the southern Rio Grande do Sul state, on Monday afternoon.
Authorities have submitted the cake for analysis, and indicated that several expired food items were discovered during a search of the woman’s residence. They noted that it remains unclear whether the suspected poisoning was deliberate.
Results from the cake testing are anticipated to be ready by next week, according to local media outlets.
On Friday, police requested the exhumation of the body of a man – the deceased husband of the woman who baked the cake – who passed away in September from food poisoning, though his death was previously classified as natural.
She is not currently regarded as a suspect in either case, and investigations are proceeding.
Six out of seven individuals at the Christmas celebration ingested the cake on Monday afternoon, including the woman who prepared it.
Law enforcement informed Brazilian media that she is the sole individual believed to have consumed two slices of her homemade cake, and her tests showed the highest levels of arsenic.
Speaking to local reporters, police chief Marcos Vinicius Veloso mentioned that some family members reported the cake had a “peppery” flavor.
The family then began experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, prompting five of them to seek medical assistance at Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes Hospital around 01:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Several hours later, two sisters died due to cardiac arrest, according to the hospital. They have been identified in local media as Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, and Tatiana Denize Silva dos Santos, 43.
The third victim, whose blood test showed traces of arsenic, passed away later on Tuesday evening from “shock after food poisoning,” as stated by the hospital.
She has been identified locally as 65-year-old Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos.
What is arsenic?
Arsenic is a metallic element that occurs naturally.
Its inorganic form is extremely toxic and classified as a category one carcinogen by the EU – indicating it is known to induce cancer in humans.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals encounter heightened levels of inorganic arsenic via drinking contaminated water or using it for food preparation, as well as through irrigation of crops, industrial activities, and tobacco use.
Since arsenic is present in soil, small quantities can enter food, although generally these levels are so minimal that they are not regarded as a concern.
It is also utilized, though only in limited instances, in pesticides and pharmaceuticals.
