Palghar (Nalasopara): Eleven people, including seven children, were hospitalised after consuming a birthday cake that allegedly contained a dead lizard in Neelkantheshwar, Takipada area of Nalasopara (east) on Saturday evening, police said on Sunday.
Immediate medical response and condition of the patients
Local residents had gathered to celebrate the birthday of a 25-year-old woman when children arriving with the cake began complaining of a burning sensation in their chests shortly after eating it. Several children began vomiting and were rushed to the nearby municipal hospital. Three of the seven children were reported to be in a critical condition and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), while others were stabilised, police said.
Vijayalalshmi Hospital is treating some of the patients, and doctors at the facility said the remaining children were in a stable condition, according to officials familiar with the medical update. A Tulinj Police team visited the hospital to examine the situation and to record statements.
Police and FDA actions
Following complaints, the Tulinj Police registered an investigation and seized samples of the cake for laboratory testing to ascertain the exact cause of the food poisoning, the officer said. The police said the probe is ongoing and cautioned that laboratory results will determine whether negligence or criminal liability can be established.
Separately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carried out a raid at the bakery from which the cake was bought. People aware of the developments said the FDA has cancelled the bakery's licence pending the outcome of the probe. The cancellation was confirmed to local officials but no formal public notice from the FDA was available at the time of reporting.
"We are investigating the case and also alerted the FDA to conduct a review of the bakery from where the cake was purchased," Vasai-Virar region mayor Ajeev Patil said.
Preliminary findings and next steps
Police said the children reported seeing a dead lizard inside the cake. Samples seized by investigators have been sent to a laboratory for toxicology and microbiological tests to determine whether contamination, poisoning or foreign-body presence led to the illnesses.
- Date and time: Saturday evening, residents said the cake was served around 6pm.
- Location: Neelkantheshwar, Takipada area, Nalasopara (east), Palghar district.
- Hospitalised: 11 people, including 7 children; 3 children in ICU.
- Authorities involved: Tulinj Police, local municipal hospital, Food and Drug Administration.
Health advisory and consumer implications
Local health officials have not yet issued a formal advisory beyond the ongoing investigation, but the incident will likely prompt increased scrutiny of bakeries and commercial food vendors in the Vasai-Virar and Palghar belt. Under food-safety rules, licensed food businesses are required to follow stringent hygiene practices, ingredient storage norms and pest-control measures; violations can lead to licence suspension or cancellation and legal action.
Residents and parents are advised to be cautious when accepting home-made or commercially purchased food at social gatherings, and to seek immediate medical attention if anyone shows symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, chest burning or breathlessness after consuming food.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Total hospitalised | 11 |
| Children among patients | 7 (3 critical, in ICU) |
| Location | Nalasopara (east), Palghar district |
| Action taken | Police probe; cake samples seized; FDA raid and licence cancellation (sources) |
Context and enforcement
The Vasai-Virar region has seen rapid urban growth and an expanding informal food sector that caters to the growing population. Food-safety enforcement in such peri-urban pockets often relies on municipal inspections and FDA checks. Officials said high-profile incidents like this one usually trigger targeted inspections of local confectioners and caterers, along with awareness campaigns for safe food handling.
Investigators said they will await the laboratory reports before deciding on charges or further administrative action. If tests show contamination or the presence of toxic material, the bakery could face prosecution under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and local public-health statutes.
Police and health authorities urged anyone with additional information about the cake purchase or the bakery to come forward to assist the investigation.
Sameer Joshi is the Maharashtra correspondent reporting from Palghar.
