Major scandal in Diyarbakır: 70 students poisoned

In the Hani district of Diyarbakır, 70 students from the 130-student Topçular Damlatepe Primary and Secondary School, who attend via the busing system, fell ill after eating lunch. The students, who reportedly ate meatballs, pasta, and dessert for lunch, were taken to the Hani State Hospital Emergency Department by their parents complaining of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and high fever. It was reported that the students, who were taken under treatment at the hospital, are in stable condition.

SAMPLES TAKEN FROM MEALS

Following the incident, samples were taken from the meals and sent to the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, with authorities focusing on the possibility of food poisoning. A judicial investigation into the incident has been launched by the Hani Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The Provincial Directorate of Agriculture took samples for laboratory analysis and conducted the necessary tests. As part of the investigation, statements from students and teachers have begun to be taken.

According to Sözcü, following the food poisoning case in Hani district, it was learned that the meals prepared by a local vocational school were obtained from a supplier company affiliated with EFEM Catering, which operates in Diyarbakır. Public reaction has intensified because this company has previously caused mass food poisoning. Despite being penalized for a similar incident last year, EFEM Catering is still able to win public tenders.

EFEM COMPANY HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PENALIZED FOR POISONING

Due to rice supplied by EFEM Catering, 20 people working at a call center in Diyarbakır had been hospitalized with complaints of food poisoning. In the examination conducted, the "Bacillus cereus" bacterium was detected in the rice. Company owner Yılmaz Öz was sentenced to 1 year in prison by the Diyarbakır Criminal Court of First Instance where he was tried. In addition, this situation was followed up by the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture as a complainant. The company had committed a crime again during the probation period for the crimes it was tried for, and subsequently received a tender in a similar manner.

SCANDAL IN MEAL DISTRIBUTION: MEALS SENT TO AKP

EFEM İçkale company was involved in a major scandal last Ramadan. The company, which undertook the distribution of meals at the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality's iftar tent, sent 800 portions of the meals prepared for poor and low-income citizens to the AKP daily. The fact that meals were sent for the AKP's women's branch, the Hani District Presidency, the Çınar Mayoral Candidate, and election campaigns in Dicle drew significant backlash. This situation brought up serious allegations of corruption in the distribution of meals at the iftar tent of the municipality, which is managed by a trustee.