Twenty-three people have died in Pakistan after consuming pastries that may have been contaminated with pesticide, according to reports.
A man is believed to have bought the desserts to celebrate a birth—reports conflict over whether it was his son or his grandson—only to die after he and several others consumed them. More than 70 people have been sickened, the BBC reports. Twelve of the 23 who have died were members of the same family. Among those dead are the man who purchased the sweets, seven of his brothers, two of his nieces and one of his nephews. Fifty-two people are still being treated.
The sweets were purchased from a bakery in the Punjab province, AFP reports. A pesticide shop near the bakery was reportedly undergoing renovations and the bakery owner had housed some pesticide in his shop.”A baker may have used a small packet in the sweet mixture,” a local official told AFP.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com