Another family member, Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos, 65, also perished on Christmas Eve after partaking in the cake.
The hospital reported that her cause of death was ‘shock after poisoning’, though the police have yet to corroborate this conclusion.
The family stated that the cake was a ‘traditional family cake’ that was faithfully made each year without fail.
This year, however, the cake seems to have resulted in the deaths of three individuals.
Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who baked the cake, is currently hospitalized alongside her 10-year-old great-nephew, with arsenic detected in their blood.
Zeli’s deceased husband had died from food poisoning in September. At that time, his death was considered to be from natural causes, but police are now requesting exhumation of his body for further investigation.
A police representative told Globo: “One of the individuals hospitalized was the cake’s maker, and there were several expired items found in her home.
“Evidently, the flour she used had also expired. There is a chance that she experienced food poisoning from consuming expired food, and we cannot exclude the possibility of intentional poisoning.”
Upon searching Zeli’s home, authorities discovered numerous expired food products and a medicine bottle containing an unusual white liquid.
A police spokesperson commented: “We’ve even discovered that there was mayonnaise that had expired a year ago.
“A bottle was found, which was meant to hold capsules, yet there were no capsules – only a white liquid that will undergo examination.”
The baker consumed two pieces of her own cake and was the first to be hospitalized.
Authorities stated: “We are yet to ascertain whether the victims were deliberately poisoned.”
The chief investigator noted that there were no indications of a family conflict prior to the event that could suggest a motive.
The baker is currently in stable condition at the hospital.