MUMBAI: A three-year-old boy’s birthday celebration turned into a frightening medical emergency after he unknowingly swallowed two metal pins concealed inside decorative chocolate pieces on his birthday cake, leaving his family traumatised and raising fresh concerns about food safety standards.
Reyaansh, a resident of Hiranandani Estate in Thane, accidentally ingested the metal pieces during celebrations for his third birthday, transforming what was meant to be a joyous occasion into an anxious 48-hour ordeal for his family.
His mother, Sneha Shelar, a biology teacher, described the incident as one of the most distressing experiences of her life.
“What was supposed to be my son’s happiest birthday became the worst nightmare of my life,” she said after the child safely recovered.
The incident occurred on May 31 during a Spiderman-themed birthday party featuring a customised bowling alley cake. According to the family, the cake included chocolate bowling pins that allegedly contained metal wires used as internal supports.
Shelar claimed that the bakery responsible for the cake had not informed the family that metal scaffolding had been inserted into the decorative pieces, despite being aware that the cake was intended primarily for young children.
The danger was discovered only after older children attending the celebration noticed metal rods inside some of the chocolate decorations and alerted their parents. Concerned that Reyaansh may have swallowed similar pieces, the family rushed him for medical examination the following morning.
An X-ray confirmed their fears.
“The scan showed two metal pins lodged in his small intestine,” Shelar said.
Doctors at Jupiter Hospital evaluated the child and determined that surgery was not immediately necessary because the metal pieces had already passed into the intestine. Instead, they recommended close monitoring and waiting for the objects to pass naturally.
For the next two days, the family remained under immense stress as doctors monitored the child’s condition for any signs of internal injury or complications.
Fortunately, both metal pins were expelled naturally after approximately 48 hours without requiring surgical intervention.
“Reyaansh is safe now, but those 48 hours were the most terrifying of my life,” Shelar wrote in a social media post that attracted significant public attention and sparked discussions about hidden hazards in decorative food items.
The case has drawn attention to a common paediatric emergency involving the accidental ingestion of foreign objects. Medical experts frequently warn about the dangers posed by small items such as pins, magnets, button batteries and coins, which can cause severe internal injuries if swallowed by young children.
Following the incident, Shelar urged parents to exercise caution when ordering customised cakes and to specifically ask whether decorative elements contain non-edible supports or materials.
The family approached the Kasarvadawali police seeking action, but they were reportedly advised that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, FDA officials indicated that an investigation would require physical evidence such as a sample of the cake or the decorative item involved.
Consumer rights advocates say families may have legal remedies under existing laws. According to Shirish Deshpande of the Maharashtra Grahak Parishad, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, holds manufacturers and sellers accountable for injuries caused by defective products or inadequate warnings.
He noted that the law also recognises psychological distress and emotional trauma suffered by consumers, allowing affected families to seek compensation through consumer courts.
The incident has reignited calls for stricter safety standards and clearer disclosure requirements for decorative food products, particularly those intended for children.
Safety Tip for Parents: When ordering customised cakes, especially for young children, ask whether any decorations contain hidden supports such as wires, skewers, rods or plastic structures, and ensure all decorative elements are safe for consumption or clearly identified as non-edible.
