Three women became seriously ill and died after eating Christmas cake at a family gathering.
On December 23, the dos Anjos family gathered in Torres, Brazil, to celebrate Christmas, which should have been a joyous occasion.
However, the festivities quickly turned tragic after guests ate a cake.
Two family members, Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, died on the same day they consumed the dessert.
Meanwhile, Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and tragically died the next day.
It is believed that three more family members became ill after eating the cake, including a 10-year-old boy.
The holiday cake was reportedly made by Maida and her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who is currently in the hospital.
At Zeli’s house, seven family members gathered to consume the cake, with only one person refusing to do so.
The Civil Police are currently awaiting results to determine what caused the deaths of the three women, with officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso leading the investigation.
Zeli is thought to have eaten two slices of the cake and was the first to be taken to the hospital after falling seriously ill.
She gave authorities information about when and where the ingredients were purchased.
Cops have also launched another investigation, which has resulted in the exhumation of Zeli’s husband.
The circumstances surrounding his death, which occurred in September due to food poisoning, will be investigated further.
Once Zeli has been released from the hospital, she will be questioned further.
According to the Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, Tatiana and Maida died of cardiac arrest.
Neuza’s cause of death has been identified as “shock after food poisoning”.
Maida, Neuza, and Zeli were sisters, while Tatiana was Neuza’s daughter.
Zeli and the unnamed 10-year-old boy are still in stable condition at the hospital.
The sixth family member, who has not been identified but is thought to be Maida’s husband, has been discharged from the hospital.
Police will also conduct interviews with her neighbours.
A friend of one of the deceased told a local news channel that the cake was a family tradition that was made every year.
Police examined the family’s food and other items in the house, and many of them were expired.
According to globo.com, a police statement reads: “We even have information that there was mayonnaise that had expired a year ago.
“There were expired products in the home.
“A bottle was found, a medicine, which should have had capsules inside it and there were no capsules – there was a white liquid and this white liquid will also be examined.”
