Three-year-old Thane toddler swallows metal pins from birthday cake; mother alleges baker failed to disclose details

PTI, Thane, Jun 10, 2026 : A toddler's birthday celebration in Thane turned into a nightmare for his family after he swallowed metal pieces allegedly embedded in his bowling-themed cake, his mother said in a video shared on social media.

The incident occurred on May 31, 2026, when the family ordered a cake from a bakery in the city for three-year-old Reyaansh. Though his actual birthday was on June 1, 2026, the family celebrated it a day earlier because it was a Sunday, making it easier for their relatives to attend the party.

"He was very happy to see his favourite bowling cake. There were golden (bowling) pins, something that he always loved," the mother said. The child began eating it himself, she said.

Unknown to the family, each decorative bowling pin on the cake had a metal wire gauge allegedly embedded inside for support. The baker did not inform them about the hidden metal at the time of order or delivery, the mother alleged.

The family noticed the hazard only after two older children bit into the cake, and their parents flagged "something hard" inside. On questioning, the baker confirmed metal wires were used, the mother said.

"Reyaansh swallowed it. We celebrated his birthday eve with cake, family, and joy," she wrote in her post, calling the discovery about the metal pieces "the worst nightmare of my life".

The mother said the episode could have been fatal and urged bakeries to disclose non-edible materials used in decorations. She also appealed to parents to check cakes thoroughly before serving them to children.

No police complaint has been filed so far.

According to the parents, the child was rushed to a hospital, where doctors said the foreign objects would likely pass through his system naturally, which they eventually did.