Punjabi 10-year-old’s death connected to cake’s high artificial sweetener content: report

The whole country was rocked by the terrible death of a ten-year-old girl in Patiala, Punjab, in March. After devouring the cake her family had purchased for her birthday, the child died suddenly. After eating a chocolate cake that she had ordered online from a bakery for her birthday, the girl’s whole family became unwell.

Recently, a new development in this case has prompted concerns about the quality of the food we are eating.

A report said that the cake had a high concentration of saccharine, a chemical component with a sweet taste. Saccharine is often used in tiny amounts in foods and beverages, but excessive amounts may raise blood sugar levels fast.
According to the report, which was provided to NDTV by District Health Officer Dr. Vijay Jindal, a sweet-tasting synthetic substance, a significant quantity of saccharine, a cake sample was utilized in the cooking process.

As a FIR has already been filed against the bakery’s owner, officials said that action would be done against the business. Following the event, Zomato, a meal delivery service, removed the bakery off its site and blacklisted the owner.
What does saccharine mean?

A scientist at Johns Hopkins University named Constantin Fahlberg made the artificial sweetener saccharine discovery in 1879. Since it has no calories and is between 300 and 400 times sweeter than sucrose, or table sugar, it is often used as a sugar replacement in a variety of dishes and drinks. During the early 20th century sugar shortages, saccharine became widely used and was a frequent component in low-calorie goods such as diet sodas and tabletop sweeteners.

Despite the fact that saccharine is permitted for use as a food additive in many nations, questions have been raised about possible negative health consequences. Its link to bladder cancer is a serious worry, especially in light of animal research. Some studies indicate a potential association between excessive saccharine consumption and an increased risk of bladder cancer, particularly in those who eat large quantities of the sugar over an extended period of time, despite the fact that these results have not been consistently duplicated in people.

Saccharine may also upset the delicate balance of intestinal flora, which might have a negative impact on digestive health. According to several studies, artificial sweeteners like saccharine may change the makeup of the gut flora and hence increase the risk of metabolic diseases including insulin resistance and obesity.

Furthermore, excessive consumption of saccharine may have a laxative effect on certain people, resulting in gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea.

Although regulatory bodies have determined that saccharine is safe to consume in reasonable daily amounts, those with certain medical problems or concerns about possible side effects may choose to restrict their intake or use other sweeteners. When eating items containing saccharine, people should take their entire diet and health state into consideration. Moderation is important as with any food ingredient.