Several members of a family in Shymkent were hospitalized with an acute intestinal infection after ordering sushi from a private seller, infohub.kz reports.
According to the Shymkent Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control, five cluster cases of acute intestinal infections have been registered in the city since the start of the year. Specialists say the risk of infection may be linked to several factors at once: poor personal hygiene, failure to maintain temperature conditions, improper food storage, and consumption of food prepared in advance.
Ready-to-eat food bought from private sellers poses a particular danger if the buyer does not know where and under what conditions it was prepared.
"They all ordered sushi from private individuals who had opened their own food outlets, prepared sushi and delivered it to order. As a result, cases of acute intestinal infections were registered," said Aigul Turymbetova, deputy head of the Shymkent Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control.
Specialists also warn that the risk increases if dishes were poorly washed, food was stored improperly, and the person preparing the food did not follow sanitary standards.
If a person feels unwell after eating ready-to-eat food, sanitary doctors advise seeking medical help and preserving evidence of the purchase. This may include a receipt, correspondence with the seller, photos or videos of the dish, packaging, and medical documents.
If necessary, affected individuals can contact the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control at their place of residence. The issue of compensation for material and moral damage is resolved in court.