Coswig, Germany: Children hospitalised after eating muffins with batteries inside at Fröbel-Grundschule

More than a dozen children have been rushed to hospital after it was revealed they had all consumed batteries.

On Thursday morning, a bake sale at the Fröbel primary school in Coswig, Germany, ended in the hospitalisation of 16 kids.

It was initially believed that 14 had consumed muffins which allegedly contained small batteries known as button cells.

Emergency services were contacted and the children were taken to hospital for assessment.

Parents were advised to take their child to the emergency department if they thought their child may have also consumed a battery.

They were told symptoms could include vomiting, coughing, loss of appetite, or fever.

A further warning was issued about the risk of swallowed button cells getting lodged in the oesophagus.

District administrator Christian Tylsch said an investigation was underway to determine how the batteries ended up inside the baked goods.

“I am thinking of the children and their families who are now waiting for the results of the examinations,” he said.

“I thank the emergency personnel and the school team who took care of the children.

“Now it is up to the police to investigate how this incident occurred.”

In an update, the district said there were a total of 16 children impacted, all of whom were taken to hospital.

It is believed that no one was injured or became ill after the incident.

They said that 35 emergency service personnel responded to the incident, including 12 emergency vehicles.

Local outlet Die Zeit reported that the muffins were homemade and had been brought in by a student.

Two students noticed small objects while eating the sweet treat, which turned out to be button cells.

Initial investigations do not indicate there was foul play involved, nor do police believe it to be a deliberate act.