Sanitary Inspection Closed Fast Food Outlet in Bishkek After Mass Food Poisoning from Shawarma

The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, through the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance, informs about a case of mass food poisoning that occurred on January 15, 2026. The incident is related to the consumption of fast food products sold at one of the fast food outlets.

As a result of the incident, 17 people were affected, including 4 children. Of these, 13 individuals were hospitalized for inpatient treatment, while 4 received outpatient care.
A preliminary epidemiological investigation revealed that the affected individuals exhibited symptoms of poisoning at different times on January 15, 2026. All of them sought medical assistance at the Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, where they received necessary care and samples were taken for laboratory testing.
According to the collected data, all affected individuals consumed shawarma purchased at the fast food outlet on the same day.
Specialists from the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Center in Bishkek conducted an unscheduled inspection of the establishment. During the inspection, samples of fast food ingredients, swabs from kitchen utensils, and leftovers of prepared dishes were collected for further analysis. An examination of the café staff for the presence of intestinal infection pathogens was also conducted.
As a result of the inspection, three protocols for administrative violations were drawn up, and three resolutions imposing fines under Articles 80, 214 Part 1, and Part 5 of the Code of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Offenses" totaling 41,000 soms were issued.
The management of the establishment was issued a sanitary order to close the fast food outlet from January 15, after which the premises were sealed.