Traced to the Rice

Nearly 10 months after the tragic death of five-year-old Dheeraj B in Bhuvaneshwarinagar, Kempapura Agrahara, Bengaluru, authorities have confirmed that spoiled Vangibath (a brinjal rice dish) stored in the refrigerator for two days was the cause of fatal food poisoning, not the cake, as initially suspected. In the chaos that followed the child’s sudden illness, his parents believed that a cake brought home by his father, Balaraj—a food delivery worker—was to blame. The cake had been part of a cancelled order, which Balaraj had taken home. However, investigators have since ruled out the cake as a source of contamination. Both Balaraj and his wife, Nagalakshmi, also consumed the rice and fell ill, but they recovered after receiving treatment. Tragically, Dheeraj’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and he did not survive.

Bacterial Contamination Confirmed

A detailed analysis by the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at KIMS Hospital and Research Centre revealed high levels of bacteria in the boy’s blood and abdominal fluid. These included:

• Escherichia coli

• Klebsiella pneumoniae (multi-drug-resistant strain)

• Sphingomonas paucimobilis

These findings confirmed that spoiled rice, improperly stored, caused the fatal infection.

Police Confirm No Fault With Cake

A senior investigating officer stated, “The reports ruled out the cake. The Vangibath was spoiled after being stored in the fridge for at least two days. The parents didn’t notice the signs of spoilage and unknowingly fed it to their child.” Police had registered a case of unnatural death at the KP Agrahara police station. Officials said they will submit the final report to the court soon.

Food Safety Lessons: Don’t Store Cooked Rice for Too Long

This case serves as a critical reminder about safe food storage:

• Cooked rice is highly perishable and prone to bacterial growth if kept too long, even in the fridge.

• Always check leftovers for smell, texture, and colour before consumption.

• Children are especially vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.

Food safety experts urge families to follow basic hygiene and refrigeration practices to avoid such tragedies.

Source: The Times of India