Family spits blood after consuming dry ice served as mouth freshener at restaurant

A group dining at a restaurant in India were left in shock and pain after being served dry ice as a mouth freshener. The incident resulted in five people vomiting blood and requiring hospitalisation.

The incident, captured in a stomach-churning video, took place Laforestta Cafe in Gurugram City, India. 

All five diners were hospitalised after consuming dry ice disguised as a traditional mouth freshener. 

Ankit Kumar, accompanied by his wife and friends, experienced the harrowing ordeal when a waiter offered what was purported to be sugar-and-spice palate cleansers. Kumar, holding his one-year-old daughter, refrained from ingesting the contents, but his companions weren't as fortunate.

As the unsuspecting diners consumed the substance, their mouths started burning, and they vomited blood. A viral video showed the victims in distress, with one woman visibly distraught and others attempting to alleviate the discomfort.

The victims spent two days in the hospital before being discharged late Monday night, according to India Today. A doctor's examination confirmed the presence of dry ice, the solid form of carbon dioxide known for causing severe burns when ingested.

Police arrested the restaurant's manager, 30-year-old Gagandeep, on charges of poisoning "with the intent to cause hurt or harm." In a preliminary interrogation, Gagandeep attributed the incident to negligence by the restaurant staff, claiming that a mix-up occurred with the mouth freshener and dry ice packets.

Meanwhile, the owner of Laforestta Cafe, Amritpal Singh, is currently evading authorities, adding another layer to the ongoing investigation.