Tehzeeb Bakers face backlash over spoiled cake

A well-known bakery in Rawalpindi, Tehzeeb Bakers, is facing criticism after a reportedly substandard and stale cake allegedly caused food poisoning in six people, including children.

Ahmad Sher Awan, a resident of Garden Avenue, bought the cake for PKR 2150. After eating it, four children—16-year-old Ammar, 23-year-old Zohaib, 24-year-old Ali Hamza, and three young girls became severely ill.

The victims were rushed to a private hospital in Phase 4, where doctors confirmed food poisoning. The family spent several stressful hours as doctors worked to stabilise the children, who were in critical condition for some time. Thankfully, timely treatment saved their lives.

Awan immediately informed the bakery. A man named Hamza, claiming to be the bakery’s manager, responded and sent two staff members to collect the remaining cake for lab testing. A sample was also sent for examination.

However, Awan later said that the manager’s response was unprofessional and lacked seriousness. He expressed disappointment that despite the pain and distress his family experienced, the bakery did not show proper concern or offer meaningful support.

Awan added that while he had no intention to damage the bakery’s reputation, the incident was too serious to ignore. He is now consulting with legal experts and plans to report the case to the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, the Food Authority, and other concerned departments.

In response, bakery shift manager Faizan said Tehzeeb Bakers maintains high hygiene standards and follows safety protocols in food preparation. He confirmed that the cake was sent for lab testing as soon as the complaint was received and denied any negligence.