ISTANBUL – A family of four – two children and thier mother – died after consuming street food in Istanbul,Turkish authorities have confirmed,with eight individuals,including four street food vendors,now under arrest in connection with the incident. The family, whose nationality has not been officially released, began experiencing symptoms after eating from multiple vendors in Istanbul’s historic center.
The incident has sparked immediate concern among tourists visiting the area, prompting increased scrutiny of food safety practices in heavily trafficked areas of Turkey. While food safety inspections are conducted nationwide, experts suggest they are frequently enough inadequate in popular tourist destinations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated authorities “will not tolerate violations that endanger food safety,” according to Anadolu news agency.
According to reports from Sabah daily and Anadolu news agency, the family fell ill after eating stuffed mussels from one street vendor, and soup and kokoreç (a turkish dish made from calf intestines) from another.They also purchased Turkish sweets and water, and reportedly consumed chicken. A 3-year-old and a 6-year-old were initially hospitalized for nausea and vomiting and released, but were readmitted later that night when their conditions deteriorated. Both children subsequently died, followed shortly by their mother.
The Ministry of Tourism has yet to issue a comment. Some tourists have told dpa news agency they are now being more cautious about where they choose to eat.
