The number of people seeking medical help for shawarma poisoning in Vladimir rose to 76, according to the regional Rospotrebnadzor press service.
Among those affected are 19 children, as reported by the agency. Between the evening of August 18 and the night of August 19, 2023, twenty people went to medical facilities for illness, including six children.
Official data show that 34 people, including 11 children, were hospitalized. The remaining 42 individuals received outpatient care. All victims were described as having a moderate condition.
According to the information released, all 76 individuals bought shawarma from five fast food outlets during August 15 to 17.
The ambulance never arrived
The victims spoke to socialbites.ca and shared details about the shawarma poisoning in Vladimir.
One local, Anastasia, said she felt unwell the day after eating shawarma from her husband. Her husband also fell ill. The two exhibited similar symptoms, including high fever, chills, diarrhea, and vomiting.
She described that drinking water was difficult and that an ambulance was called at 17:00. She was told there were many calls and that she would have to wait. The illness seemed to grow stronger, and the ambulance did not arrive in time.
Her husband, who had bought shawarma from the same place, did not encounter issues previously.
Student Sergey, residing in the dormitory of a pedagogical institute, purchased shawarma on the evening of August 17. He woke up the next morning with a fever rising to 38.7 C. He contacted an ambulance, but medical staff did not come to assess him.
Because his mother is a doctor, he later bought antibiotics and water and traveled from Lastochka to Ivanovo for care. He reported that he was still unwell and continuing to receive injections.
Marina is in the hospital with her child after trying her father’s shawarma. Her daughter shows signs of severe poisoning. On the third day she received IV fluids and antibiotics. The day described as the third shows a decrease in fever and vomiting that has stopped, but severe stomach pain and diarrhea persisted. Her husband was also poisoned despite not eating shawarma himself.
What the tests showed
Sanitary and epidemiological investigations confirmed that Salmonella caused the mass poisoning. The findings indicated that the shawarma outlets did not maintain clean premises, there were no supporting documents for the meat used, and cooking practices violated standard procedures.
Employees were observed cooking without sanitary uniforms and without medical notebooks. They were not screened for skin or infectious diseases. The sites lacked proper handling for raw meat and vegetables, as well as reliable water supply and sanitation systems.
These establishments have been closed. Buildings were sealed and administrative protocols were drafted against the owners. A court will determine penalties that could stop operations at these outlets.
Shawarma poisoning outbreak
In response to the mass illness, Vladislav Davankov, deputy chairman of the State Duma for the New People party, announced a plan to ask the health ministry to set a single standard for all public catering outlets in Russia. He described a growing epidemic of shawarma-related illness and suggested that a uniform standard would help address the issue. His proposal includes a marking system for establishments that prepare meals from fresh ingredients without fatty sauces and harmful additives.
Davankov also noted that in addition to the Vladimir region incidents, more than 100 people were poisoned by shawarma in Bratsk, Irkutsk region in July. Regional authorities reported that contaminated shawarma used in a fraternity cafe involved expired chicken wings from Krasnoyarsk. Laboratory tests detected Salmonella in sauces and chicken. The supplier responsible for the expired products reportedly did not provide proper documentation. [Source attribution: regional health and regulatory bodies and party statements]