Three Dead After Suspected Christmas Cake Poisoning in Brazil
Family members fall seriously ill, and authorities investigate potential foul play
- Arsenic found in the blood of one victim and a child; cake sent for testing
- Three dead after consuming the cake at a family gathering in Torres, Brazil
- Police investigate whether poisoning was intentional; woman's expired food items discovered
Three women have tragically died in Brazil after eating a Christmas cake that is believed to have been poisoned.
Arsenic, a deadly substance, was found in the blood of one of the victims and a 10-year-old boy who is still in the hospital. The cake, made by a local woman, was served at a family gathering in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul.
Five family members fell ill, with two sisters, aged 58 and 43, dying from cardiac arrest shortly after eating the cake. A third victim, 65-year-old Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos, died from shock after food poisoning.
Police are investigating whether the poisoning was intentional, as the woman who baked the cake is not currently considered a suspect. During a search of her home, several expired food items were discovered, and the cake itself has been sent for testing. Police also exhumed the body of her late husband, who passed away from food poisoning in September, to re-examine his death.
Arsenic, a naturally occurring metal, is highly toxic and a known carcinogen. While small amounts can be found in food, this case has raised significant concern. Further test results from the cake are expected next week.
