Twenty-three die in Pakistan after eating contaminated sweets
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Version 0 of 1. At least 23 people, many from the same family, have died and dozens of others fallen ill in Pakistan after eating sweets that police suspect were tainted with pesticides, according to officials. Umar Hayat, a resident of the Karor Lal Esan area in Punjab province, bought the baked confectionery on 17 April to distribute among friends and family after the birth of his grandson. But their celebrations turned out to be short-lived when 10 people died on the same day. “The death toll from consumption of the sweets has now risen to 23, and 52 people are still being treated at various hospitals,” a police official, Munir Ahmed, said. He added that the dead included the baby boy’s father and seven of his uncles. Rameez Bukhari, a senior police officer from the district, confirmed the incident, adding that three people – two brothers who run the bakery and a worker – had been arrested. The worker may have inadvertently added pesticide to the sweet mix, he said. “There was a pesticide shop close by which was being renovated, and the owner had left his pesticides at the bakery for safe keeping,” said Bukhari. “A baker may have used a small packet in the sweet mixture,” he said, but added that police were awaiting for the results of laboratory testing. |