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Poisoning of Over 200 People Due to 'Religious Food' in Kerman

Jan 31, 2026 January 31, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

Over 240 people in Kerman province suffered food poisoning after consuming religious food. Medical officials are investigating the outbreak, which has been linked to a specific food item. This incident highlights ongoing public health concerns related to food safety in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The food poisoning incident in Kerman highlights critical public health vulnerabilities in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Mehdi Shafiei MENTIONED
Head of the disease control group at Kerman University of Medical Sciences
"Responsible for managing public health responses and addressing outbreaks in the region."
Kerman University of Medical Sciences MENTIONED
Health authority in Kerman province
"Plays a crucial role in monitoring and responding to health crises in the area."

📰 What Happened

Over 240 residents in Kerman province experienced food poisoning after consuming a specific type of religious food. Medical officials are investigating the outbreak and have mobilized emergency response teams.

  • 242 individuals reported symptoms of food poisoning, including abdominal pain and nausea.
  • Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the contamination.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This incident underscores serious public health issues related to food safety and the need for better regulatory oversight.
🌍 Regional: It raises concerns about food safety standards in a region where communal and religious gatherings often involve shared meals.
🌐 International: May affect perceptions of Iran's public health management and food safety protocols, potentially impacting tourism and trade.

📚 Background

Food safety is a recurring issue in Iran, with past incidents of mass poisoning linked to contaminated food. The cultural significance of religious food adds complexity to food safety challenges.

Public health in Iran Food safety regulations
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The report comes from IRNA, a state news agency, which may emphasize government responses and downplay systemic issues.

According to a medical official in Kerman province, over 240 residents of this province visited hospitals due to food poisoning from consuming religious food on Thursday and Friday. On the evening of Saturday, October 24, the head of the disease control group at the Health Department of Kerman University of Medical Sciences discussed the latest actions taken regarding 242 cases of food poisoning in the 'Andohjard' area of Shahdad district in Kerman province in an interview with IRNA news agency. Mehdi Shafiei stated that 'a case of gastrointestinal illness with symptoms of abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, and vomiting was reported from 6 PM on Thursday in the Shahdad area, and due to the increasing number of poisonings, at that time the possibility of an outbreak of a disease transmitted through water and food was raised, and the health committee of Kerman County was activated.' According to Mr. Shafiei, investigations in the area were conducted due to the increase in the number of poisoned individuals, and since most of the patients had consumed the same religious food, it was determined that the food poisoning was likely caused by this food. He further noted that the Andohjard clinic and the Shahdad health center had been receiving patients since Thursday night, stating, 'By 3 PM on Saturday, about 242 people had visited the Andohjard, Shahdad clinics, and Afzali Pour Hospital in Kerman.' The head of the disease control group at Kerman University of Medical Sciences announced the actions taken by the university regarding this illness: 'On Thursday night, four ambulances along with a bus ambulance were dispatched to the area, and a treatment team consisting of four nursing experts and emergency medical technicians along with a doctor was sent to the area to take care of these patients.' Mr. Shafiei mentioned that since Saturday morning, the number of poisonings has been on the rise, and samples of food items that were possibly related to the poisonings have been sent to the laboratory for further investigation. Group poisoning due to the consumption of contaminated or expired food has repeatedly occurred in various regions of Iran. For instance, in July of this year, 46 students who traveled from Qom to Mashhad were poisoned due to 'consuming spoiled food.'

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 90%

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