Tourist mother, 2 children die after suspected poisoning in Istanbul – national
Two children and their mother died after eating street food in a popular tourist destination, Turkish officials said Friday.
The Böcek family, originally from Germany, reportedly fell ill on Wednesday after eating popular street food dishes from local vendors in the Ortakoy area.
They were rushed to the hospital but the two children, aged three and six, were killed by a prominent health official, Istanbul District Health Officer Abdullah Emre Guner told X.
“The children of the family, aged 6 and 3, could not be saved despite all the interventions. The investigation is being taken care of very much about the incident,” said Emre Guner.
The mother died not long ago, said Justice Minister Yilmaz Tuc, who shared an update on X on Friday.
“The investigation established by the public prosecutor’s office of Istanbul in relation to this incident where the family of people living in a hotel in Istanbul was taken, and where the treatment of his father continues,” Mantu wrote.
He said the necessary samples were collected from places where the family is known to have been eaten.
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“Four people who work responsibly in these areas have been arrested,” Tunc added.
“The findings of the Crime Scene investigation teams sent to the Medical Council, and the tests … continue to determine the cause of death of the 2 deceased children.”
Tunc expressed his condolences to the relatives of the family and their wishes for “a speedy recovery to his Father who will continue to heal him.”
According to local reports, the family is thought to have eaten farm-raised mussels, Turkish ham and Tantuni chicken, which is described as minced chicken wrapped in a vegetable broth. They were also reported to have eaten Kokorec, which is a traditional dish made from lamb that has been slaughtered or stacked.
Türkiye Daily confirmed that four people were arrested as part of the investigation, reportedly involving full-time Mumbuli dealers.
The family of four traveled from Hamburg, Germany, to Istanbul on November 9 for a vacation, according to CNN TÜRK.
Experts warn that some foods and drinks can harbor serious bacteria and parasites while on vacation, putting you at risk of foodborne illness.
Keith Warriner, Professor of Food Security at the University of Guelph, previously told World News It’s important to be aware of the holidays in a country where food and water levels can vary.
The World Health Organization emphasizes this warning, advising travelers who want to reduce their risk of illness to avoid certain foods and drinks, consult a doctor before going out with salt and the necessary medicines.
Another big suspect for getting sick while on vacation is eating at a caterer, Warriner said.
“The street vendors … The fact is that they have food in a warm environment, so bacteria grows,” he said.
If you experience food poisoning, Health Canada says the most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, stomach pains and cramps. These symptoms can appear within hours of eating contaminated food, or sometimes days or weeks later.
– With files from world news
& Copy 2025 Global News, Division of Corse Entertainment Inc.
