Synthetic Sweetener in Cake Linked to Punjab Girl’s Death: Official

On March 24, the girl’s entire family fell ill after eating a chocolate cake ordered online from a bakery in Patiala for her birthday. A sample of the cake was collected for testing, which revealed a high amount of saccharine, a sweet-tasting synthetic compound, was used in its preparation, according to District Health Officer, DHO Dr. Vijay Jindal. While small amounts of saccharine are commonly used in food and drinks, high levels of it can cause rapid elevation of blood glucose levels.

Officials have indicated that action will be taken against the bakery, with the possibility of a fine being imposed, and a First Information Report (FIR) has already been filed against the bakery’s owner. In a widely shared video on social media, the girl, Manvi, can be seen cutting the cake and celebrating with her family just hours before her death. Shortly after they consumed the cake, her entire family fell sick, including her younger sister.

The girls began vomiting, and Manvi complained of dryness in her mouth and feeling parched, as reported by her grandfather. When she lost consciousness, the family rushed her to a hospital, where she was placed on oxygen but was declared dead soon after. The family alleged that the chocolate cake, ordered from ‘Cake Kanha’, contained poisonous substances.