Several cases of possible food poisoning in recent days in hotels and public catering establishments have shaken Turkey and forced authorities to tighten control measures, BTA reported.
A family of four died after suspected food poisoning in a hotel in Istanbul, where the family stayed during a vacation after arriving from Germany. On the third day of their stay in an Istanbul hotel in the Fatih district, the parents and their two children were admitted to hospital with symptoms of food poisoning, and two other visitors from the hotel, foreign citizens, were also admitted to the hospital with them.
A total of 11 suspects were detained in the case, with four of them placed under arrest. A report submitted to the prosecutor's office, based on the analysis of food samples consumed by the family, states that no hazardous or unsuitable substances were found in them, the "Milliyet" newspaper reported today.
According to the conclusion of the preliminary forensic report on the autopsies, the probable cause of the four's death is poisoning with a chemical substance from the hotel environment, and as a less likely possibility, the family was poisoned with food. This confirms the version that spraying against insects in the hotel may have caused the family's death.
However, the case of the Boçek family is not the only one of a similar nature in recent days. A young woman was hospitalized in Istanbul after drinking coffee made with detergent instead of water at a restaurant in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkish media reported.
As part of the investigation, employees at the restaurant were questioned. One of the employees admitted that she mistakenly used a bottle full of dishwashing liquid, thinking it was water, to make the customer's coffee. Police found that the liquid had been poured into bottles used in the kitchen by the restaurant's owners' father.
Turkish authorities are investigating other cases of possible food poisoning after eating out at restaurants in Istanbul in recent days. A German citizen of Turkish origin was taken to hospital and later died after feeling unwell at a hotel in Istanbul's Fatih district, where he was staying for a fair. Initial reports suggest that the man had been drinking tea at the hotel and had eaten other food in the area around the Suleymaniye Mosque. The hotel owner said he had not treated the property for pests in the past year, "Habertürk" reported.
Two sisters from the Netherlands, also staying at a hotel in Fatih, were admitted to hospital with suspected food poisoning. They felt unwell at lunchtime and sought medical attention with complaints of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea after consuming kebabs, chicken burgers, mussels and other foods. There is no danger to the sisters' lives, and investigations into their case and that of the deceased German citizen are ongoing.
The cases have prompted authorities in the country to tighten controls. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli announced that intensified inspections of street food outlets are being launched after recent cases of food poisoning, Turkish state television TRT Haber reported.
Yumaklı reported that 1,143,000 inspections of food outlets have been carried out since the beginning of the year. 26,591 violators have been fined 2.265 billion Turkish liras (46.2 million euros), and 506 cases have been referred to the prosecutor's office. He recalled that Turkey regularly publishes lists of companies found guilty of counterfeiting and dangerous practices.
Amidst the public tension surrounding the death of the family of four and the increased interest in the topic of food safety, a special meeting was held in Istanbul today under the chairmanship of Governor Davut Gul, at which new, stricter measures for controlling food and the activities of establishments were adopted.
Among them are the introduction of mandatory 24-hour video and audio surveillance in all commercial establishments, with recordings to be kept for 30 days. In addition, food inspection committees will be established throughout the city, which will carry out 24-hour control. Owners and employees at the establishments will undergo training in hygiene and food safety. The requirement to keep samples of food sold for 72 hours will also be strictly monitored. Control over street vendors will also be strengthened. Disinfestation companies will also be inspected, and administrative and legal action will be taken in case of violations. If spoiled or expired products are found to be sold, a report will be filed with the prosecutor's office.