A group of diners vomited blood after they were served dry ice as a mouth freshener at an Indian restaurant.
Five people fell ill at La Forestta Cafe in the northern Indian city of Gurugram after they consumed the sugar and spice mix, traditionally served after a meal at some Indian restaurants.
The manager of the restaurant was arrested on Tuesday and he has been charged with poisoning ‘with the intent to cause hurt or harm’, the BBC reported.
The five diners can be seen holding out their tongues, with one yelping and another spitting out water in footage that has gone viral.
They were all hospitalised following the incident, the publication reported.
The five diners can be seen holding out their tongues, with one yelping and another spitting out water at La Forestta Cafe in the northern Indian city of Gurugram in footage that has gone viral
Two of them are said to be in critical condition, according to Indian news channel NDTV.
After their meal, a waiter offered the group a packet of mouth freshener, but as soon as they consumed it, their mouths began to burn and bleed and they started vomiting.
Police said the mix contained dry ice – a solid form of carbon dioxide popular for its smoke-like vapour and cooling properties.
Those who were taken ill were part of a group of six who had eaten at the restaurant, the police said.
A group member showing her red tongue. After their meal, a waiter offered the group a packet of mouth freshener, but as soon as they consumed it, their mouths began to burn and bleed and they started vomiting
Ankit Kumar, a Greater Noida city resident who was dining with his wife and their four friends, did not consume the mix and made the police report, according to The Straits Times.
‘I showed the packet of mouth freshener to a doctor, who said it was dry ice. According to the doctor, it is an acid which can lead to death,’ Kumar said.
The customers said in their complaint that staff members refused to help them.
The case is under investigation and the police said they were carrying out a forensic analysis of the contents.
A search is also underway for the owner of the restaurant.
