High levels of synthetic sweetener detected in cake linked to 10-year-old Punjab girl's death

Officials revealed on Monday that the cake, which tragically led to the death of a 10-year-old girl Manvi in Patiala, Punjab, contained a high concentration of artificial sweetener. The distressing incident occurred on March 24 when the girl's entire family fell ill after consuming a chocolate cake purchased online from a bakery in Patiala for her birthday.

District Health Officer Dr. Vijay Jindal told NDTV that a sample of the cake was collected for examination, and the subsequent report indicated a significant presence of saccharine, a synthetic compound imparting a sweet taste. While saccharine is commonly utilized in minimal quantities in food and beverages, elevated levels can lead to a rapid increase in blood glucose levels, posing health risks.

Tragically, the young girl passed away the following morning after ingesting the cake, prompting legal action against the cake shop owner. A police complaint lodged by the girl's mother outlined the sequence of events, indicating that the family members, including the deceased girl, experienced vomiting shortly after consuming the cake. While the condition of other family members improved, the girl's health deteriorated, resulting in her untimely demise.


In response to the complaint, authorities registered a case against the shop owner under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 273 (sale of noxious drink or food) and 304-A (causing death by negligence). Additionally, viscera samples were dispatched to a laboratory to determine the exact cause of death.

According to the girl's grandfather, the family had ordered the cake online around 6 p.m. on March 24, with subsequent illness striking the entire household around 11 p.m. While the younger daughter managed to expel the cake and survive, the elder sister, unfortunately, succumbed to its effects.