Criminal Case Opened in Tashkent Region After Mass Food Poisoning of Children in Kindergartens

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 24 September, reports appeared on social media about a mass food poisoning of children in kindergartens across Tashkent region. The regional Department of Preschool Education promptly commented on the situation.

It was established that the incidents occurred in several preschool institutions in the Pskent, Boka, and Kuyichirchik districts. The children were poisoned by food products and were hospitalized.

No severe cases of illness have been recorded, and all affected children remain under medical supervision. Timely measures taken helped to prevent any deterioration in their condition.

An investigation has been launched: samples of all outsourced food products have been collected and sent for expert examination by the sanitary and epidemiological service. The results of laboratory tests will be published in due course.

On 25 September, the regional Department of Internal Affairs opened a criminal case in connection with the incident under Part 1 of Article 257-1 of the Criminal Code (“Violation of sanitary legislation or epidemic control rules”). Preliminary investigative actions are underway. Those found guilty face up to five years of imprisonment.

On the same day, Minister of Preschool and School Education Ezoza Karimova and Deputy Minister Azizbek Turdiyev traveled to Tashkent region to personally assess the situation with the kindergarten food poisoning, the Ministry’s press service reported.

Together with representatives of law enforcement agencies and local hokimiyats, they inspected conditions in preschool institutions, including kitchens and food services, and held discussions with management and educators.

According to the ministry, 12 children remain under medical supervision in Kuyichirchik district, and 97 in Akkurgan. Their condition is assessed as stable. In the Pskent and Boka districts, kindergarten pupils are undergoing medical examinations in stages, with no serious health threats identified so far.

The ministry noted that the exact number of affected children in the Pskent and Boka districts has not yet been disclosed. At the same time, it called on social media users to refrain from spreading unverified information.