Key Points:
Three family members died, and three others are hospitalized after eating a homemade Christmas cake suspected of being poisoned with arsenic.
Investigations reveal a possible link to the baker's husband, who died from food poisoning three months ago.
A tragic incident in Brazil has left three family members dead and three others in hospital after they consumed a homemade Christmas cake, known locally as Bolo de Natal. Authorities suspect arsenic poisoning after the toxic substance was found in the blood of a 10-year-old boy and the woman who baked the cake—both of whom remain hospitalized.
The victims, all from the same family, began showing symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea shortly after eating the cake. Despite seeking medical help, two sisters died from cardiac arrest. A third victim passed away later due to “shock after food poisoning.”
The situation has raised suspicions, as the baker’s husband had died from food poisoning just three months earlier. Police have exhumed his body for further investigation.
Authorities discovered expired food items while searching the baker's home but have yet to confirm if the poisoning was intentional. The cake has been sent for testing, and results are expected next week.
According to the newspaper O Globo, a family friend told the Brazilian TV network RBS that the family had baked the cake in the past and that there had been no issues.
"It was a traditional family cake, a king's cake, which they always, always, always made," he said, according to the outlet.
This heartbreaking case highlights the importance of food safety, especially during festive seasons.
