On the air of "Birinchi Radio," doctors from the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance, Nazgul Abamuslimova and Umut Satybaldieva from the Bishkek City Sanitary-Epidemiological Center, discussed how to avoid food poisoning, especially when consuming fast food.
Worrying Statistics
According to specialists, in Kyrgyzstan, 232 cases of food poisoning were registered in 2025, affecting 580 people. Of these incidents, 11 were mass poisoning cases, with 5 occurring in fast food establishments.
One of the most notorious cases involved the poisoning of 24 people on January 15 in Bishkek after they consumed shawarma at the "Daamduu" restaurant. This establishment is currently closed, and investigations into the circumstances of the incident are underway.
Why Fast Food Poses an Increased Risk
Doctors noted that the products used to prepare fast food have a high epidemiological risk.
Such dishes include a variety of ingredients—meat, vegetables, greens, and sauces—which significantly increases the chances of contamination if sanitary standards are not followed.
Particularly dangerous are sauces and fresh greens, which often do not undergo thermal processing.
Responsibility of Business Owners
Experts reminded that owners and staff of cafes must strictly adhere to sanitary standards:
- follow proper food storage methods;
- ensure adequate thermal processing of meat and semi-finished products;
- prevent cross-contamination, where bacteria are transmitted through dirty hands, clothing, knives, and cutting boards.
Customers and waitstaff should not have access to the food preparation area. The personal hygiene of workers and their knowledge of cooking technologies also play an important role.
Recommendations for Consumers
To reduce the risk of food poisoning, doctors advise consumers to:
- pay attention to the overall sanitary condition of the establishment;
- be wary of suspiciously low prices and excessively large portions;
- avoid purchasing food in places where there is no water and cleanliness.
