More than 30 children suffer from food poisoning in Jizzakh kindergartens

More than 30 children have suffered from food poisoning in four preschool educational institutions located in the Forish district of the Jizzakh region, the district administration’s press service reported.

According to the report, on October 9, between 9:00 and 16:00, 37 children aged 3 to 7 from state preschool institutions No. 1, 3, 5, and 7 under the Forish District Department of Preschool and School Education sought medical help with complaints of fever, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weakness.

An epidemiological investigation revealed that on October 8, the children had consumed biokefir, cheese, and butter served in the kindergartens. Based on medical history and initial examinations, they were diagnosed with acute diarrhea and provided with inpatient treatment.

According to the preliminary conclusion of the Jizzakh Regional Department of Sanitary, Epidemiological and Public Health, the mass poisoning occurred due to violations of sanitary rules and regulations during the transportation, storage, and processing of food products in the mentioned preschool institutions.

The Forish district prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power or official authority) and has launched an investigation.

It should be recalled that earlier, similar cases of mass food poisoning were reported in preschool educational institutions in the Piskent, Buka, Akkurgan, and Kuyi Chirchik districts of the Tashkent region. Following these incidents, a criminal case was initiated against responsible individuals from several private outsourcing companies under Part 1 of Article 257-1 of the Criminal Code (violation of sanitary legislation or rules for combating epidemics). Investigations suggested that poor-quality dairy products may have caused the children’s illness, and it was determined that the 3.2% kefir supplied to the preschools had been produced in a workshop located in the Akkurgan district.