Key Update
More than 120 people have fallen ill in Russia’s Siberian republic of Buryatia after consuming contaminated ready-made meals sold by a regional supermarket chain. Local health officials confirmed the outbreak, calling it one of the largest foodborne illness incidents in the region in recent years.
Cases Rise Rapidly
Russia’s consumer rights watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, says that the number of confirmed cases jumped from 89 to 121 in less than a day. Around 70 people remain under medical supervision in Ulan-Ude, the regional capital, after developing symptoms of acute intestinal infection. Laboratory tests have already confirmed 11 cases of Salmonella.
Manufacturer Under Investigation
Investigators traced the source of contamination to the food company Vostok, which supplies around 2.5 metric tons of ready-made meals daily to the Nikolaevsky grocery chain. Inspectors discovered serious sanitary violations at the company’s production site. Authorities immediately suspended Vostok’s ready-made food operations and seized 6.4 metric tons of products from stores and warehouses.
Production Manager Faces Charges
The Investigative Committee of Russia has charged the production manager of Vostok with producing unsafe food that caused serious harm to consumers. Investigators detained the manager over the weekend, carried out searches at the company’s facility, and collected evidence related to the food poisoning outbreak. If found guilty, the manager could face up to six years in prison under Russian food safety laws. A video released by the committee showed employees inspecting crates of packaged food and recording reports inside the company’s premises.
Patients Stable, Probe Continues
Officials said most patients remain in stable condition while investigations continue. Health authorities are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further spread of infection.
Source: The Moscow Times