Dozens poisoned by kebabs in Russian city
More than 70 people have suffered food poisoning after eating kebabs (known as 'shawarma') at several locations in the city of Vladimir over the past few days, according to Russia's consumer rights watchdog.
In a statement released on Saturday, Rospotrebnadzor said that over just two days, 20 people had sought medical help for an illness “associated with consumption of shawarma,” bringing the total number of a recent spate to 76, including 19 children.
Of the total, 34 people including 11 minors are in hospital, and 42 are recovering at home. Doctors have assessed the patients’ condition as moderate. The watchdog said the poisoning was likely caused by the bacterial disease salmonella, which was discovered in the patients' tests.
The victims purchased kebabs at five different fast-food locations in Vladimir between August 15 and 17, according to Rospotrebnadzor. An inspection after the mass poisoning revealed “gross violations of sanitary norms and rules” leading to the establishments being temporarily shut down.
“The premises and equipment intended for preparation of shawarma and storage of food raw materials were sealed off. Protocols on administrative offenses were drawn up in respect of the culprits, which were sent to district courts to consider the issue of imposing an administrative penalty in the form of suspension of activities,” the statement read.
Shawarma and similar street-food items are considered a high risk when it comes to food positioning, especially during the warmer months, infectious disease doctor, Yvetta Gorshkova, told gazeta.ru last week.
“Shawarma is a very dangerous product, no matter when you eat it – in the summer or winter – but during the heat the risk rises,” Gorshkova said, adding that the consumers should only purchase such fast-food items in trusted outlets that strictly follow sanitary rules.
