62 People Poisoned by Shawarma in Irkutsk Region; Café Owner Arrested

In Bratsk, a city in the Irkutsk region of Russia, the number of people poisoned after consuming shawarma has reached 62. The owner of the fast food café serving the shawarma has been arrested. This was reported today, June 15, by the press service of the Investigative Committee of the Irkutsk region.

"The owner of the fast food café in Bratsk has been arrested, where 62 people sought medical assistance due to poisoning symptoms, 29 of whom were hospitalized, including 5 children," the press service stated.

According to the Investigative Committee, a criminal case has been initiated regarding a violation of Article 238, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which pertains to the production, storage, and sale of products that do not meet safety requirements.

It was noted that the regional Rospotrebnadzor reported 29 cases of acute intestinal infection. On the morning of June 14, reports emerged regarding 11 residents of Bratsk, including 5 children, experiencing poisoning after visiting the café selling shawarma. All of them were hospitalized. On the morning of June 15, it was reported that the number of victims had increased.

Experts from the regional Rospotrebnadzor found violations in the cooking processes and technological procedures for food storage in the café. Additionally, there were no conditions for employees to maintain personal hygiene. The establishment has been temporarily closed.