Porto Alegre bakery owner arrested after dead rat found in cake

A 41-year-old bakery owner was arrested in flagrante in Porto Alegre, Brazil, after a customer discovered a dead rat inside a cake purchased via a delivery app. The customer had partially consumed the product before noticing the rodent.

Following the report, a joint operation by the Civil Police, the Consumer Rights Protection Police Station (Decon), and Sanitary Surveillance inspected the Casa de Bolos franchise locations in the Cavalhada and Centro neighborhoods. Authorities found rodent excrement, urine, expired products, and inadequate hygiene conditions, leading to the closure of both establishments.

Investigators are exploring the hypothesis that the rodent may have been inside the oven and fell into the batter during preparation. While the consumers have not reported symptoms, they have undergone testing for leptospirosis and are under medical monitoring. The franchise headquarters issued a statement describing the incident as “unacceptable” and noted that while units are operated by independent franchisees, they must adhere to strict sanitary standards.