Istanbul, Nov 22, (dpa/GNA) – Twenty-five people were taken to the hospital in Istanbul, after eating food from the same restaurant late Friday, authorities and local media reported.
The people who were hospitalized “are in good general health and are receiving necessary medical evaluations and treatment,” Istanbul provincial health director Abdullah Emre GĂĽner wrote on X on Friday evening.
The 25 reportedly ordered lahmacun, a traditional flatbread topped with minced meat, vegetables, and spices at the same restaurant in Sisli district.
The customers reported symptoms of nausea and vomiting, according to broadcaster CNN TĂĽrk.
Local authorities sealed the restaurant, which had been operating without a licence, according to CNN TĂĽrk.
The incident comes as Turkey, grapples with the death of a family of four from Germany visiting Istanbul.
Initially suspected to be a case of food poisoning, the deaths are now believed to involve chemical exposure, possibly pesticide fumes leaking into their hotel room. A final autopsy report is still pending.
The latest incidents have intensified scrutiny of food safety and inspection failures in Istanbul, a major international tourist destination.
GNA