When Birthday Cake Turns Into a Party Crasher
On a joyous Saturday, a little friend’s 4th birthday turned into a full‑scale medical emergency—thanks to a cake from The Peachy SugarMaker, a humble home bakery in Bendemeer.
The Timeline (and the Tummy Trouble)
- 5th August: First bite. Symptoms start.
- 7th August: Cake picked up at 2 pm. Looks a touch “melty” but the owner says it’s fine.
- 8th August: All party guests feel the burn—stomach cramps, fever, the whole salmonella package.
- 9th August: Helper rushes to SYS General Hospital; son heads to Mount Elizabeth Novena.
- Throughout the week: Several other guests go to Gleneagles; the messenger girl “needed a break”.
- Friday: Discharges: Son, helper, friend’s daughter; friend – no hospital stay but still on the “whoops” list.
Who’s in the Ring?
It wasn’t just the celebratory family circle. Among the 15 who fell ill:
- Ms Luo J. Y. – the mom, oily‑sector hero, recently took a cake for her kid.
- Her helper – the one who turned into a “lying‑low” hero.
- The one‑year‑old boy – the bravest of them all.
- Friend’s little 3‑year‑old sidekick.
- Everyone else who had a bite of the tempting “dessert wonder.”
All 9 who were admitted later tested positive for Salmonella, the notorious culprit that’s all about digestive drama.
What the Authorities Did
Once the Ministry of Health and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) got wind of the situation, the experts hit the brakes:
- Sticky pause: SFA told Peachy to halt all sales on Friday.
- Investigation in full swing—no cake left untouched.
- Safety reminder: Keep cakes refrigerated and gobble them within 48 hours.
- SFA warned that any breach of the Food Sale Act or Environmental Public Health Act will be met with a stern strike.
Final Verdict
Today’s lesson: Even a home‑baked cake can be a recipe for chaos. While the party’s chill sticks around, it’s best to keep the next one caffeine‑friendly, not “savor the risk.” Stay cool, stay safe, and keep an eye on that cake’s texture—no melted surprises allowed!
