JAKARTA– The death of popular Indonesian social media influencer Lula Lahfah has thrown a little-known kitchen gas into the national spotlight.

In her South Jakarta flat, police found a canister of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas”, which is used to aerate whipped cream, mousse and dessert toppings.

The 26-year-old’s death on Jan 23 prompted the authorities and the public alike to confront a stark reality: A product designed for kitchens had found a second life as a party inhalant.