Fact Check: Boy seen in viral video eating smoky biscuits did not die; the video is not from Hyderabad

Hyderabad: After the Gurugram dry ice incident, where a family of five was mistakenly served dry ice instead of mouth freshener at Laforestaa Cafe on March 2, 2024, a similar mishap captured on video has quickly gained viral attention.

In the video, a boy can be seen in considerable distress after consuming a smoky biscuit. The caption circulating with the video claimed that the boy subsequently passed away after suffering for several days after consuming dry ice in smoky foods.

An X user shared the video on X with the caption, “Oh, this is dry ice!!! It looks like a place in Telangana or Andhra. The govt has to issue an advisory against the use of dry ice!! It’s plain poison!!Oh my... parents lost a child just like that!! (sic)”

Click here, here and here for more posts. The claim was also reported by a media outlet Free Press Journal.

Fact Check

NewsMeter revealed that the video is neither from Hyderabad nor the child is dead. The viral claim is false.

We started our investigation with a keyword search and found relevant media reports on multiple Kannada media outlets Pratidhvani and Vistara News dated April 18, 2024. According to the reports, the incident took place at the Robotic Birds Exhibition near PB Road in Davanagere, Karnataka on April 17, 2024, and not in Hyderabad.

Next, the report on Pratidhvani, which also contained a screenshot of the video, also mentioned that “The boy fell unconscious while eating a smoke biscuit. The parents immediately admitted the child to the hospital and gave him treatment. After treatment, the boy survived. The parents have given a complaint to the corporation officials about the smoke biscuits and the corporation officials banned the sale of the smoke biscuits and seized them.”

Moving forward, a report on ETV Bharat report dated April 24, 2024, confirmed, “A purported video from Karnataka has been doing rounds stating that a boy lost his life after consuming what was claimed to be a ‘smoke biscuit’, made using liquid nitrogen. It was later found that the boy who swooned in the video had been saved due to timely medical intervention.”

We also found another report on the YouTube Channel of ISH News confirming the incident took place at an exhibition in Karnataka and the boy was alive and safe sustaining medical complications.

Is consuming liquid nitrogen or dry ice safe?

Dr N Bhavna, a consultant dermatologist underscored the critical dangers associated with the ingestion of dry ice or liquid nitrogen, a concerning trend that has emerged recently. “Both substances are extraordinarily cold with dry ice registering at around -78.5 degrees Celsius (-109.3 degrees Fahrenheit) and liquid nitrogen even colder. While these agents are widely used for specific purposes such as cryotherapy treatments in controlled medical settings, they are absolutely not intended for consumption. Ingesting dry ice or liquid nitrogen can result in severe internal injuries, including frostbite to the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach lining,” Dr Bhavna said.