Number of food poisoning decreased in Azerbaijan
By Sabina Idayatova
From January to October, the number of food poisonings has
decreased in Azerbaijan compared to the same period last year, the
Republican Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Azerbaijani
Health Ministry reported on November 19.
Some 939 cases of food poisoning have been recorded during the
reported period, as a result of which one person died and 1325 were
injured.
Furthermore, some 25 cases of botulism were registered which
resulted in the injury of 31 people during the first nine months of
2013.
Some 1466 people suffered as a result of 1193 food poisoning cases
last year. About 26 cases of botulism were registered as result of
which 40 people were injured. Three people died as a result of food
poisoning from January to October last year.
Meanwhile, the Republican Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of
the Azerbaijani Health Ministry has also reported that some 716
entrepreneurs operating in the food sector have been fined by the
sanitary-epidemiological service of Azerbaijan from January to
October this year.
According to the Republican Center, the entrepreneurs have been
fined for violating health regulations and requirements during the
manufacturing, sale, storage and transport of food products. The
Center has also notified relevant authorities of possibly 79
additional entrepreneurs in violation. During the reporting period,
the decision was made to close some 212 facilities, and temporarily
suspend 251 people from work.
Laboratory examination was carried out on the organoleptic and
physico-chemical parameters of 8739 food samples, for
microbiological indicators on 8175 samples, toxicological
indicators on 2282, and radiological indicators on 236. Defects
were found in organoleptic and physico-chemical parameters in 136
samples, and microbiological in 89 samples.
Some 27,430 smears and 518 samples of appetizers have been taken
from catering establishments in January to October, 2013. E. coli
were above the norm in 439 swabs and five cold appetizers.