Authorities in Torres, Brazil, are investigating a suspected case of arsenic poisoning after three women died and two others fell critically ill following the consumption of a Christmas cake.
The incident occurred in the southern Rio Grande do Sul state during a family gathering on December 25.
Blood tests have confirmed the presence of arsenic, a highly toxic substance, in one of the deceased women, a 10-year-old boy, and the woman who baked the cake. Both survivors remain hospitalised.
Police chief Marcos Vinicius Veloso disclosed that the cake has been sent for laboratory analysis, with results expected next week. During a search of the baker’s home, authorities uncovered several expired food items.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling primarily ensures procedural fairness. We’ll return to the High Court on Tuesday to continue the process,” Veloso stated, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the poisoning was intentional or accidental.
Six of the seven attendees at the gathering consumed the cake, including the baker. Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea began shortly after the meal, prompting five family members to seek medical attention.
Two sisters, Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, and Tatiana Denize Silva dos Santos, 43, died of cardiac arrest hours later. A third victim, Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos, 65, died the following evening from complications associated with food poisoning.
The baker, who consumed two slices of her cake, showed the highest arsenic levels in her blood but has not been named as a suspect.
In a related twist, police have requested the exhumation of the baker’s late husband, who died in September from what was initially deemed natural causes related to food poisoning.
Authorities now seek to determine whether his death was connected to the current case.
Chief Veloso noted that some family members had remarked on the cake’s “peppery” taste, raising suspicions.
The incident has left the local community in shock, with calls for a thorough investigation to ensure justice.
What is arsenic?
Arsenic, a naturally occurring metallic element, is highly toxic in its inorganic form and classified as a category one carcinogen. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), exposure can occur through contaminated water, industrial processes, or tainted food.
While naturally present in soil and food in trace amounts, significant ingestion of arsenic can lead to severe health consequences, including cancer and death.
Awaiting Answers
Authorities continue to probe the source of the contamination, aiming to determine whether it was accidental or deliberate. Results from the ongoing investigations and laboratory tests are eagerly awaited by both the victims’ families and the wider public.
Source: BBC