A 12-year-old girl faced a life-threatening medical emergency after consuming a ‘smoky paan’ infused with liquid nitrogen at a wedding event in Bengaluru. The incident led to a diagnosis of perforation peritonitis, a severe condition involving a hole in the stomach, prompting immediate surgical intervention.
The young girl experienced excruciating stomach pain and bloating after ingesting the novelty food item. Upon examination at Narayan Health Bengaluru, doctors discovered a tear in her stomach filled with gas, necessitating urgent surgical intervention to remove the affected stomach portion.
Dr. Vijay HS, who conducted the operation, highlighted the dangers associated with liquid nitrogen in food, emphasizing that its use in creating visual effects like vapour clouds poses significant risks, especially to children attracted by social media trends.
Liquid nitrogen, with its extremely low boiling point of -196 degrees Celsius, can cause severe frostbite or eye damage upon contact and poses risks of asphyxiation and gastric perforations if inhaled or ingested. Despite warnings from some state governments against its direct consumption, regulatory measures remain lax, leading to potential hazards in food establishments.
In response to such incidents, the Tamil Nadu government recently issued warnings against using liquid nitrogen directly in food items like biscuits, ice creams, and wafer biscuits, emphasizing the need for complete evaporation before serving. However, the broader regulatory framework concerning liquid nitrogen’s use in food processing remains a topic of concern.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the indiscriminate use of liquid nitrogen in food and the urgent need for stricter regulations to safeguard public health, particularly among vulnerable groups like children who may be enticed by visual gimmicks without understanding the potential risks involved.
Sources By Agencies