Woman mistakes firecracker for candy, suffers injuries

Shimona Sharma
The North News
Chandigarh, February 13

A woman in southwestern China suffered mouth injuries after mistakenly biting into a firecracker, believing it to be candy. The incident took place in Chengdu, Sichuan province, when Wu confused the packaging of a “shuang pao” firecracker with that of a taro milk sweet. Upon biting into it, the firecracker exploded, leaving her injured. Wu told the South China Morning Post that she was unaware of the mix-up when her brother brought the item home. “I didn’t feel pain at first, just a strong smell of gunpowder in my mouth,” she said.Shuang pao firecrackers, which ignite upon impact, are commonly used during celebrations like the Lunar New Year.

The firecracker’s packaging closely resembled that of confectionery or medicine, raising concerns over misleading designs. Many social media users in China called for clearer labeling to prevent such accidents.