Three died as a result of suspected Christmas cake poisoning

Arsenic has been found in the blood of one of three women who died after eating Christmas cake in a suspected poisoning in Brazil, a police chief told local media.

The highly toxic substance was also found in blood tests of a 10-year-old boy and a woman who made the cake – both of whom are still in hospital.

Five members of one family fell ill after eating cake at a gathering in Torres, in southern Rio Grande do Sul state, on Monday afternoon.

Police sent the cake for examination and said that during a search of the woman’s home, several expired food items were found. They added that it is still unclear whether the suspected poisoning was intentional.

The results of the cake tests are expected to be available next week, according to local media.

On Friday, the police demanded the exhumation of the body of a man – the late husband of the woman who made the cake. He died in September of food poisoning, but police said his death was ruled natural at the time.

At this time, she is not considered a suspect in any of these cases, and the investigation is ongoing.

Six of the seven people at the Christmas party were eating cake on Monday afternoon, including the woman who baked it.

Police told Brazilian broadcasters that she was the only one believed to have eaten two slices of the homemade cake, and her tests showed high levels of arsenic.

Speaking to local media, police chief Marcos Vinicius Velaza said some family members complained that the pie had a “peppery” taste.

The family then developed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea, and the five of them sought medical attention at Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes Hospital at around 01:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

Hours later, the two sisters died of cardiac arrest, the hospital said. Local media identified them as Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, and Tatiana Denise Silva dos Santos, 43.

A third victim, whose blood test showed traces of arsenic, died later Tuesday night of “shock after food poisoning,” the hospital said.

Local residents named her 65-year-old Neuza Denise Silva dos Anjus.

Arsenic is a naturally occurring metallic element.

Its inorganic form is highly toxic and is classified by the EU as a category one carcinogen – meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic when they drink contaminated water or use it for cooking, as well as during crop irrigation, industrial processes and tobacco smoking.

Because arsenic is found in the soil, small amounts can end up in food, although generally these levels are low enough to not be considered a cause for concern.

It is also used, albeit to a limited extent, in pesticides and pharmaceuticals.