PALGHAR
Eleven people, including seven children, fell ill after eating a birthday cake that allegedly contained a dead lizard at a celebration in Nalasopara, Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Saturday evening in the Takipada area, where residents had gathered to celebrate the birthday of a 25-year-old woman. After eating the cake, several children complained of a burning sensation in their chests and began vomiting. They were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Police said the children later reported finding a dead lizard inside the cake. Seven children were hospitalised, with three reported to be in critical condition and admitted to the intensive care unit. The condition of the other children was said to be stable.
A team from Tulinj Police visited the hospital and seized cake samples for testing. Officials said the exact cause of the illness had not yet been confirmed. The Food and Drug Administration was alerted and later inspected the bakery from where the cake had been purchased.
The FDA subsequently raided the bakery and cancelled its licence, according to officials aware of the action. Authorities are investigating how the cake was prepared and supplied. The cake samples will be tested to determine whether contamination caused the illness, while officials continue to examine the bakery’s food safety practices.