Are noodles the cause of death? The death of an Egyptian child raises concerns and investigations are underway

A tragic incident occurred in the Al-Marj area of Cairo, Egypt, sparking a wave of controversy and panic across social media, following the death of a 13-year-old boy named "Hamza Al-Wazzan" after consuming three packets of instant noodles at once, without cooking them.

After the incident, the child's father published a general warning to parents urging them not to allow their children to consume "noodles", which heightened the state of panic among Egyptians, amid questions about the dangers of this widely consumed product among children and teenagers.

Initial investigations indicated that the product involved in the incident meets Egyptian standard specifications and does not contain manufacturing defects or harmful substances directly.

However, investigations suggested that the death may have resulted from serious health complications due to the large quantity consumed by the child, especially since it was not cooked.

Dr. Hossam Abdel Aziz, a consultant in gastroenterology and medical endoscopy, clarified in a television program this morning that this is not the first incident related to noodle consumption, referring to a similar case that occurred in 2022, where investigations at the time confirmed the safety of the product available in the market.

Dr. Abdel Aziz proposed three main hypotheses that could be behind the death:

1 _ Allergy to one of the ingredients: The child may have had an undiagnosed allergy to a specific ingredient in the noodles, whether from preservatives, wheat flour, or accompanying artificial flavors.

2 _ Choking: There is a possibility that a part of the uncooked noodles entered the airway instead of the digestive system, which could have caused sudden choking.

3 _ Intestinal obstruction: Consuming three packets at once without cooking can lead to intestinal obstruction.

Although this type of obstruction does not usually lead to immediate death, it can cause fatal complications if immediate medical assistance is not provided.

The doctor confirmed that "the food product itself cannot be accused of murder", but there should be warnings about improper consumption methods and excessive quantities.

Dr. Abdel Aziz pointed out that instant noodles usually contain a high percentage of refined carbohydrates and sodium, leading to:

• A rapid increase in blood sugar levels.

• An increased risk of obesity in children.

• Greater chances of developing high blood pressure, heart diseases, strokes, and kidney problems.

The security authorities in the Al-Marj police station received a report from the parents two days ago about a sudden deterioration in the health condition of the child Hamza after he consumed the noodles directly without cooking.

Immediately, the public prosecution was notified, which ordered the forensic medicine department to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, and the child's family was summoned to hear their statements.

As of now, the forensic medicine authority has not issued the final report to determine the direct medical cause of the child's death.